Scotland's captain will play in the World Cup thinking of the late Diogo Jota

Scotland's captain, Andy Robertson, carries a profound personal connection into the upcoming World Cup, vowing to honor the memory of his former Liverpool teammate, Diogo Jota. Jota, who tragically passed away last year in a car accident in Spain, will be in Robertson's thoughts throughout the tournament.

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I will carry him in my heart and I know he will be with me in the first game, in the second, in the third and, hopefully, in all the others.

Robertson revealed his intentions after leading Scotland to their first World Cup qualification since 1998. He shared that Jota's presence had been a constant thought during their qualification journey. The two players had often discussed their shared dream of reaching a World Cup final stage, a conversation that gained poignancy after Jota missed Portugal's 2022 World Cup squad due to injury.

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I write to you with a heart full of longing, gratitude, and above all, pride. Diogo often spoke of you, of the friendship you forged, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football... and about dreams.

These sentiments were deeply reciprocated by Jota's widow, Rute Cardoso. She penned a heartfelt letter to Robertson, expressing immense gratitude and pride. Cardoso wrote of how Diogo often spoke of Robertson, cherishing their friendship, shared on-field battles, and conversations about football and their dreams.

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The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that both nurtured, side by side, with the same passion with which they jumped onto the field. When I heard your words and knew what you felt that day Scotland qualified for the World Cup, after so many years of waiting, I understood that Diogo never really left the field.

"The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that both nurtured, side by side, with the same passion with which they took to the field," Cardoso wrote in the letter, which was shared by FIFA. She added that Diogo would be with Robertson and the Scottish team in spirit, carrying their shared dream onto the pitch. Robertson, visibly moved, recorded a message thanking Cardoso for her words and for ensuring Jota's memory lives on through their shared aspirations.

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So today I want to thank you. Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for carrying him with you. Thank you for transforming the pain of loss into strength and into something so beautiful.