Ruben Neves publicly denied any romantic involvement with Rute Cardoso on Wednesday after a Portuguese magazine used an image on its front page that made the pair appear to be kissing.
The Al-Hilal midfielder, a close friend and former team-mate of the late Diogo Jota, said the photograph was taken out of context and condemned the magazine’s choice. Neves stressed he has been in a committed relationship with his wife, Debora Lourenco, for more than a decade and said he and his family have tried to support Jota’s widow and children following the striker’s death.
The image ran alongside a feature in TV Guia under the headline, "After death: How Diogo Jota's widow leans on his best friend." The photograph, the magazine wrote, illustrated the closeness between Neves and Jota’s family, but Neves and others said the picture likely captured a moment immediately before an embrace or a cheek kiss rather than a romantic encounter.
In a lengthy statement on social media, Neves called the choice of image "unhappy" and addressed the person who selected and published it. "Me and my wife, @deboralourenco23, been together for over 11 years, happy, with a family that makes me proud," he wrote. "We have done our best to help Rute and her family in the best way we can. The choice of this photo is as unhappy as the person who chose it, and the person who posted it."
Neves, who left Wolves for Al-Hilal in 2023 and captained Wolves during his time there, was among those most visibly affected when Jota and his brother André died in a road crash earlier this year. Jota, 28, had married his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso just days before the crash and is survived by three children. Neves was photographed grieving at the funeral and later unveiled a tattoo on his leg depicting him embracing his late friend, an image widely circulated in Portugal and Britain.
The magazine article described the bond between Neves and the Jota family as part of the footballer’s legacy. Neves and Jota featured together for Porto, Wolves and Portugal on the pitch 164 times, and their friendship extended beyond football, teammates and family members have said.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez confirmed earlier this month that Neves will take Jota’s number 21 shirt for the national team, a decision Martinez described as a way to keep Jota’s presence on the field. Liverpool retired Jota’s No. 20 shirt at the club level after his death.
At a ceremony held in September to celebrate Jota’s life, Neves delivered a speech and read a handwritten letter to his friend, telling teammates and attendees that Jota would remain with them "at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane." Neves said the team would ensure Jota’s family had "everything they need" and pledged to keep his friend’s memory alive on and off the pitch.
Neves reiterated in his statement that he and his wife are proud of the support they have offered Rute and her family and that they will continue to help. He said he respects people doing their work but does not respect those who "don't respect others," and asked for privacy as the family continues to grieve.
The magazine did not issue an immediate public response to Neves’s statement. Media coverage of personal grief and relationships has drawn scrutiny in recent months as friends, family and clubs have sought to balance public interest with privacy for those affected by the crash.