EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Trent Alexander-Arnold admitted it was an emotional struggle to take the field for Real Madrid in their FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal victory over Borussia Dortmund, revealing that the late Diogo Jota was “with me today” as he played through grief.

Jota, aged 28, tragically lost his life in a car accident in the early hours of Thursday, alongside his brother André Silva. Their funeral, held on Saturday, was attended by several Liverpool and Portugal teammates. Among them were Rúben Neves and João Cancelo, who had played for Al Hilal just hours earlier in their Club World Cup loss to Fluminense in the United States.

Alexander-Arnold shared a close bond with Jota during their years together at Liverpool, where the pair spent five seasons as teammates. Speaking after Real Madrid’s win in New Jersey—a match that also saw Kylian Mbappé dedicate his goal celebration to Jota—the England international acknowledged how difficult it was to focus on football amid such loss.

“I want to send my condolences, thoughts, and prayers to a very close friend of mine,” Alexander-Arnold said in an interview with DAZN. “We shared a dressing room for five years, and it goes without saying that he will never be forgotten. He will always live on in our memories.”

Despite the emotional weight, Alexander-Arnold said he felt a responsibility to perform for his team. “At the end of the day, I still had a job to do,” he explained. “I had to go out there, do my role, and help the team win, no matter how hard it was or still is.”

He admitted the challenge of compartmentalizing his grief. “As difficult as it was, I had to push those emotions aside and focus on the task in front of me. I tried to do that as best as I could,” he said. “I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t tough—but I did it in his honour.”

Alexander-Arnold added that he felt Jota’s presence with him during the match. “I’m sure he would have wanted me to play, and I know we would’ve joked about my assist,” he said. “In some way, it felt like it was for him. I’m certain he was there with me.”

Reflecting on the broader response, Alexander-Arnold said the unity shown across football had been both painful and comforting. “This has been incredibly hard for everyone who knew him—not just teammates, friends, and family, but the entire footballing world,” he said. “Some moments are bigger than the game itself.”

He continued: “Seeing the football community come together to show love and support has been very moving. I’ve spent time with his family—his brother, his incredible wife, and his three children—and it’s absolutely heartbreaking.”

The Real Madrid defender concluded by remembering Jota not just as a footballer, but as a person. “It’s the kind of tragedy you never expect,” he said. “He was a close friend, someone who brought light into every room. Losing him is devastating.”