As Scotland prepare for their first FIFA World Cup appearance in nearly three decades, an emotional message from Diogo Jota’s widow has brought the late Liverpool star’s memory back into the spotlight.

Rute Cardoso, the wife of the former Portugal international, wrote a heartfelt letter to Scotland captain Andy Robertson ahead of the tournament, reminding him of a dream he and Jota once shared. The message was featured as part of FIFA’s “Letters That Unite” campaign and left Robertson visibly emotional as he reflected on his friendship with his former Liverpool teammate.

Robertson and Jota spent several years together at Liverpool and developed a close bond on and off the pitch. Their friendship grew even stronger around the time of the previous World Cup, when both players often discussed what it would be like to compete on football’s biggest stage. Jota missed the 2022 tournament through injury, while Scotland failed to qualify.

Tragically, Jota died in a car accident in July 2025 at the age of 28, a loss that deeply affected teammates, friends, and supporters around the world. Robertson has previously spoken about how difficult it was to process the death of someone he considered a close friend.

In her letter, Cardoso reflected on the friendship between the two footballers, recalling the conversations, challenges, laughter, and dreams they shared throughout their years together. She noted that the World Cup was one of those dreams and suggested that Robertson would not be carrying only his own ambitions when he stepped onto the tournament stage. Instead, she said, he would also be carrying Jota’s dream with him.

The message resonated deeply with Robertson.

After reading the letter, the Scotland captain admitted that Jota would remain at the forefront of his thoughts throughout the tournament. He explained that memories of his late friend continue to accompany him and said those memories often bring both smiles and tears. Robertson added that he feels he is playing not only for himself, but also for Jota.

The emotional tribute comes after Scotland secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, ending a 28-year absence from the competition. Following that qualification, Robertson revealed that Jota was one of the first people he thought about. The pair had spent years imagining what it would be like to experience a World Cup together, making the achievement particularly bittersweet.

Scotland will begin their World Cup campaign against Haiti before facing Morocco and Brazil in Group C. For Robertson, however, the tournament appears to carry a deeper meaning than football alone.

While the World Cup represents a career milestone for Scotland’s captain, Cardoso’s message served as a powerful reminder of a friendship that extended far beyond the game. As Robertson prepares to lead his country onto the world’s biggest football stage, he does so with the memory of Diogo Jota close to his heart—and with a promise to carry his friend’s dream with him every step of the way.