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Trent Alexander-Arnold paid tribute to Diogo Jota after Real Madrid's 3-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Club World Cup.

The former Liverpool right-back spent five years as Jota's teammate, most recently ending the 2024-25 season by winning the Premier League alongside the late Portugal star.

The funeral of Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, took place in Gondomar, on the outskirts of Porto, on Saturday, two days on from their untimely deaths in a car crash.

Arne Slot and a host of Liverpool players attended the funeral, as did a number of Jota's former teammates, but Alexander-Arnold's involvement at the Club World Cup meant he did not have the chance to.

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I had to go out there and perform for the team, help us win the game, no matter how difficult it was and how difficult it is.

"As hard as it was, I had to push it to the back of my mind and focus on my job and my role.

It was difficult, I'm not going to lie about that, but I have done it in honour of my close friend

"I'm sure he would have wanted me to do that and I'm sure we would have had a laugh and a joke about my assist as well, so yes, it was in some way in memory of him

Alexander-Arnold and Jota were teammates for five years

Alexander-Arnold said that the response to Jota's death from the global soccer community has been uplifting during an extraordinarily tough period.

"It's been very difficult for everyone that knew him, not just me and his teammates, friends or family, but the footballing world," Alexander-Arnold added

"Some things are bigger than the game.

"It's been difficult, but also very heart-warming to see the footballing world unite and come together to show their love and support for his family and his brother for what must be mind-blowingly hard times for his family.

"I've been around his family, his brother, his amazing wife and amazing three children, so it's truly heart-breaking