In a heartbreaking twist that left the world of sport in silence,Carlos Alcaraz, current number one in the world in tennis, broke out crying in front of the cameras after revealing a shocking detail on the recent death of the Portuguese footballerDiogo Jota. According to the young tennis player of Murcia,He had received a call from Jota just 12 minutes before the tragic accidentwho put an end to the life of the Liverpool striker.

During an improvised press conference in Wimbledon, where Alcaraz was preparing for his debut in the tournament, the champion was unable to hold back the tears. Among the sobs, he told how that call, who at the time seemed like a simple kind gesture by a friend, now persecuted him with a mixture of sadness and bewilderment.

“He called me at 15:00, just as I was heading to the training camps. He said to me: ‘friend, good luck to Wimbledon. I know you will win everything’. He was in a good mood, he laughed … I would never have thought that it would be the last time I would hear his voice,” said Alcaraz visibly devastated.

What many did not know was that Carlos Alcaraz and Diogo Jotathey maintained a sincere and deep friendship, while belonging to different sports worlds. According to sources close to both, they met more than two years ago at a charity event in Lisbon and since then they shared conversations, online video games and encouragement messages in the key moments of their respective careers.

Jota, a tennis enthusiast, often joked with Alcaraz on the fact that one day they would face “on a field, not on the grass, but in Fifa”. Alcaraz, for his part, confessed on more than one occasion to admire the ethics of work and the humility of the Portuguese attacker.

“It was not just about football or tennis. He was a person with whom I talked about life, our families, of the fear of failing. We understood us in a very strange and profound way,” Carlos confessed.

Diogo Jota died in a dramatic road accident near Liverpool, a few minutes after that called Alcaraz. According to the local police reports, he lost control of the vehicle in a dangerous curve while traveling alone, presumably due to the asphalt soaked in rain. The paramedics arrived quickly, but they could not save his life.

Carlos, after learning the news after training, collapsed emotionally. Apparently, he ran off the pitch, threw the racket on the ground and fell on his knees, crying in Dirotto. His technical staff took several minutes to calm him down.

“I couldn’t believe it. I reread his message, I listened to his voice … it seemed so alive. It’s impossible!” He repeated in tears. “I feel that I could have done something, tell him to stay at home, to be careful … but the inevitable cannot be changed.”

A gesture to Wimbledon who moved the world

In his first game in Wimbledon after the tragedy, Alcaraz took the field wearing a special shirt under the uniform: at the end of the first set, he raised the garment and revealed a white embroidered message on white that recited:
“For you, Jota. Always.”

The entire stadium exploded in applause. The gesture was taken up by millions of fans on social media and players of several football teams, including some Liverpool, sent support messages to the Spanish tennis player.

The Liverpool Arne Slot coach also shared the homage video, writing:

Thanks, Carlos. Today more than ever sport is united.

Some fans, affected by the temporal coincidence between the phone call and the accident, began to mirror on social media on a possible “sign” or “act of fate”. Although most of these theories remain speculation, what is clear is that the conversation between Jota and Alcaraz wasMore than a simple farewell: It was the final gift of a true friendship.

Diogo Jota is gone, but his memory is still alive in the hearts of those who knew him. Carlos Alcaraz, just 21 years old, became not only a tennis star, but also a symbol of empathy and humanity, reminding us that, beyond trophies and records,What really matters is the human bond .

Jota’s call is no longer just an anecdote. It is an echo. A whisper from the past that will continue to accompany Carlos in every game and that will undoubtedly rise to Wimbledon and all over the world for a long time to come.