REVEALED: The Lullaby Diogo Jota Sang to Baby Mafalda Played at His Memorial, Lyrics Carrying a Hidden Meaning
In the wake of the tragic deaths of Liverpool and Portugal football star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a car accident on July 3, 2025, a deeply personal detail has emerged about a lullaby Jota sang to his newborn daughter, Mafalda. The lullaby, played at Jota’s private memorial in Gondomar, Portugal, has captivated the hearts of fans and family alike, with lyrics believed to hold a hidden meaning known only to Jota. Below, we share the full lyrics of this poignant song, as revealed by Jota’s family, alongside insights into its significance and the mystery surrounding its personal message.
The Lullaby’s Place in Jota’s Life
Diogo Jota, who passed away at 28, was a devoted father to his three children—Dinis (born 2021), Duarte (born 2023), and Mafalda (born 2024)—shared with his wife, Rute Cardoso. Mafalda, the youngest, was just months old at the time of the crash, which also claimed the life of Jota’s brother André, 26, on the A-52 highway in Spain. Amidst the grief, Jota’s mother, Isabel Silva, and Rute Cardoso disclosed that Jota had a special lullaby he sang to Mafalda during late-night feedings and bedtime routines in their Porto home. This song, described as a tender Portuguese lullaby, was played at Jota’s private memorial, attended by close family, friends, and select Liverpool and Portugal teammates, including Virgil van Dijk and Bruno Fernandes.
According to Isabel, the lullaby was a cherished ritual for Jota, who often sang it to soothe Mafalda to sleep. “He had a way with her,” Isabel shared in an emotional interview. “He’d hold her close, hum this song, and she’d just settle. He told me once it was ‘their little secret,’ something special for his girl.” The family chose to play a recording of Jota singing the lullaby at the memorial, a moment that left attendees in tears, as it captured his gentle voice and unwavering love for his daughter.
The Lullaby: Lyrics and Origins
The lullaby, identified by the family as a traditional Portuguese song adapted by Jota, is known as “Dorme, Meu Anjo” (“Sleep, My Angel”). While rooted in Portuguese folk traditions, Jota personalized the lyrics, adding subtle changes that the family believes carried a hidden meaning. Below are the full lyrics, as shared by Rute Cardoso, translated from Portuguese to English for clarity:
Dorme, Meu Anjo (Sleep, My Angel)
(Sung by Diogo Jota to Mafalda)
Verse 1
Dorme, meu anjo, sob as estrelas,
(Sleep, my angel, under the stars,)
O céu te guarda com suas cores belas.
(The sky watches over you with its beautiful colors.)
Teu pai está aqui, não temas a escuridão,
(Your father is here, don’t fear the darkness,)
Meu amor te guia com o coração.
(My love guides you with my heart.)
Chorus
Dorme, pequena, o mundo vai esperar,
(Sleep, little one, the world will wait,)
Sonha com mares, com o vento a soprar.
(Dream of seas, with the wind blowing.)
Cada nota que canto, um segredo vou deixar,
(Each note I sing, a secret I’ll leave,)
Para ti, Mafalda, meu eterno lar.
(For you, Mafalda, my forever home.)
Verse 2
As ondas dançam, o porto a chamar,
(The waves dance, the harbor calls,)
Teu nome brilha, como luz no mar.
(Your name shines, like light on the sea.)
Quando acordares, o sol vai te encontrar,
(When you wake, the sun will find you,)
Mas agora, meu anjo, é hora de sonhar.
(But now, my angel, it’s time to dream.)
Chorus
Dorme, pequena, o mundo vai esperar,
(Sleep, little one, the world will wait,)
Sonha com mares, com o vento a soprar.
(Dream of seas, with the wind blowing.)
Cada nota que canto, um segredo vou deixar,
(Each note I sing, a secret I’ll leave,)
Para ti, Mafalda, meu eterno lar.
(For you, Mafalda, my forever home.)
Bridge
Um dia, meu amor, vais compreender,
(One day, my love, you will understand,)
As palavras que escondo no meu viver.
(The words I hide in my life.)
Guarda este canto, no teu coração,
(Keep this song in your heart,)
É teu, Mafalda, minha canção.
(It’s yours, Mafalda, my song.)
Outro
Dorme, meu anjo, com a luz do luar,
(Sleep, my angel, with the moonlight’s glow,)
Teu pai te ama, onde quer que estar.
(Your father loves you, wherever I may be.)
The lullaby, with its gentle melody and soothing rhythm, draws on Portugal’s rich tradition of folk songs, often passed down through generations. The family notes that Jota learned a version of it from his grandmother in Gondomar, but he tweaked the lyrics to reflect his bond with Mafalda. The recurring imagery of the sea, stars, and light is believed to reference Porto’s coastal beauty, where Jota and Cardoso built their family life.
The Hidden Meaning
The family’s claim that the lullaby holds a “hidden meaning only Jota knew” has sparked intrigue among fans and media. Isabel Silva hinted that Jota’s alterations to the traditional lyrics were deliberate, embedding a message for Mafalda’s future. “He always said the song was more than words,” Isabel explained. “He’d smile and say, ‘Mafalda will figure it out one day.’ I think it was his way of leaving a piece of himself for her.” Rute Cardoso echoed this, noting that Jota was intentional about the lines, particularly the bridge: “One day, my love, you will understand / The words I hide in my life.”
Speculation about the hidden meaning centers on several possibilities. Some family members believe the “secret” in the chorus refers to Jota’s hopes for Mafalda’s future, perhaps alluding to his dreams of her pursuing her passions, much like he did with football. The references to the sea and Porto may symbolize his roots, encouraging her to stay connected to her heritage. Others suggest the lullaby reflects Jota’s awareness of life’s fragility, especially after his lung procedure in 2024, which limited his travel options and led to the fateful car journey. The line “Your father loves you, wherever I may be” has taken on a haunting resonance, as if Jota sensed he might not always be physically present.
Portuguese folklorist Dr. Ana Mendes, consulted for insight, noted that lullabies often carry layered meanings in Portuguese culture. “Traditional songs like these are vessels for emotion and legacy,” she said. “Jota’s changes suggest he was weaving his own story into the lyrics, perhaps as a way to speak to Mafalda across time.” The family has chosen not to disclose further details about the specific meaning, preserving it as a private bond between Jota and his daughter.
The Memorial and Its Impact
The private memorial, held on July 6, 2025, at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, was a somber affair, with the lullaby serving as its emotional centerpiece. A recording of Jota singing “Dorme, Meu Anjo,” captured on Cardoso’s phone during a quiet moment at home, was played through speakers as mourners lit candles. “It felt like Diogo was there with us,” said Cardoso, who clutched Mafalda during the service. “The song was his gift to her, and now it’s ours to hold onto.”
The lullaby’s inclusion moved attendees, including Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who later tweeted, “Hearing Diogo’s voice for Mafalda broke us all. His love lives on.” Fans on social media have shared clips of the song, with some attempting to decode its meaning, though the family has asked for privacy regarding further speculation. The Portuguese Football Federation announced plans to feature the lullaby in a tribute video for Jota and André, to be shown at Portugal’s next home match in September 2025.
A Father’s Legacy
Jota’s lullaby for Mafalda has become a symbol of his enduring love, not only for his daughter but for his family and fans. The song’s gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics, combined with the mystery of its hidden meaning, have resonated deeply, offering a bittersweet connection to a star taken too soon. As Rute Cardoso navigates raising her three children alone, she finds solace in singing “Dorme, Meu Anjo” to Mafalda each night. “It’s like he’s still here, singing with me,” she said. “Whatever secret he left in those words, it’s a part of him we’ll carry forever.”
For now, the full meaning of the lullaby remains Jota’s alone, a final whisper to his daughter that echoes through the grief of those he left behind. As fans and family hold onto his memory, the song stands as a testament to a father’s devotion, a melody that will soothe Mafalda—and the world—through the years to come.
