In a moment of profound emotion and sadness, the world of sport was rocked by the unexpected and tragic loss of Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota , who died in an accident whose circumstances are still being investigated. The news had an immediate impact on athletes, clubs, and millions of fans. But amid all the tributes and messages of grief, there was one that took the world’s breath away: that of Rafael Nadal .
In an interview at Wimbledon, Nadal, visibly shaken, revealed that just twelve minutes before the accident , he had received a call from Jota. His voice breaking with emotion, Rafael recounted:
“He called me to wish me good luck before my first game. It was something I didn’t expect. It was a sincere, pure gesture… And he said three words that, now, I can’t stop hearing in my head: ‘Play with soul.’ ”
Nadal stopped. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as tears began to form. Then he continued:
“We weren’t close friends, but we shared mutual respect. We had crossed paths at various charity events, and he always admired me as a tennis player… I admired him as a soccer player and as a humble, generous person. That call, at the time, wasn’t a coincidence. It was an act of kindness. And now… it seems almost prophetic to me.”
Nadal’s story became a heartfelt tribute not only to an athlete, but to a human being who left a mark on everyone who knew him. The words “play with soul” not only impacted the tennis player, but quickly began circulating on social media as a symbol of the passion and dedication with which Diogo Jota lived his life on and off the court.
Football teams, players, and sports figures shared the quote, accompanied by images of Jota in his most brilliant moments. His club even released an official statement titled, “With soul: this is how we will always remember you, Diogo . “
For Nadal, that farewell call, unbeknownst to either of them, became an emotional responsibility:
“Now every time I step onto the court, those words will stay with me. And I won’t do it just for myself… I’ll do it for him too.”
The global sports community, moved by this unexpected connection between tennis and football, responded with a wave of messages of love, tribute, and solidarity for Jota’s family. No one could have imagined that such a small gesture as a call of encouragement, so close to a tragedy, would transform into an unforgettable moment uniting two worlds with a single sentence.
“Play with soul” is no longer just a recommendation. It’s a legacy.
