Players from Liverpool FC, who only three months ago were celebrating their Premier League win, arrived at the funeral together.
Watching them walk in line with each other, almost as they do when walking onto the pitch, was an emotional experience.
There was a strong feeling of community, but also a shared sombreness.
Many were visibly upset, with supporters on the other side of the barrier applauding the players. One woman in the crowd shouted towards them as they walked in: “Força!” – strength.
Family and close friends walked into the church in complete silence, many of them with their heads bowed down as the church bell rung.
One person in the procession held up a sign with Silva’s photograph, which read: “Para sempre um de nós.” (Forever one of us.)
So much was the brothers’ impact on football and their local community that some of the guests had to watch the ceremony from outside of the church, often hugging and comforting one another.
Locals and football fans in the crowd watched silently for most of the service, which went on for about an hour.
Many wore football shirts and carried merchandise from the different teams across Portugal and abroad where Jota and Silva, who played for local club Penafiel, spent some time in.
