Maria Pereira, 67, was overwhelmed with emotion as she recalled Diogo Jota and Andre Silva's journey from boys next door to celebrated football stars. Living beside the brothers' grandfather, Pereira witnessed their rise to fame and even attended Jota's wedding to Rute Cardoso - an event that should have been the highlight of their summer.

Instead, tragedy unfolded weeks later, as both Jota and Silva died in a car accident, sending shockwaves of grief through the small community off Rua da Minhoteira where they were brought up. The footballing world mourns, but for their neighbours like Pereira, the pain is acute.

Her nephew, Cosme Oliveira, acted as her voice as he recounted to the ECHO his aunt's bond with the young sportsmen. "My aunt was very close to those two. She watched them grow from babies until now. She maintained contact with them all the time, especially with the family. This shocking news was strange, confusing and heartbreaking."

Growing up together, they shared not just a neighbourhood but daily interactions with the Liverpool FC star and his brother, with Cosme adding, "His grandpa from his mother's side lives [next door] and we all have contact with him, almost everyday. They were the most humble and beautiful people that we ever have had here in this small town."

Cosme, now 30, struggles with the loss as he recalls his own childhood memories playing football with Jota and Silva in their grandfather's front garden. He nostalgically remembered the carefree days: "We played from the garage door to the main gate."

"We played small tournaments. I remember back in 2010. We had the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, we had this idea that we could make our own tournament. He was Portugal. I was Argentina, Andre was Brazil."

Cosme laughed that there was only ever going to be one winner. He added: "Of course, [Diogo] won. His mood was always you can do better, you can do better. I sucked at football. We were just playing for fun. He was never looking for fame or money. He just wanted to play football. He just wanted to play what he liked most."

It's this desire and passion for the game that meant the number 20 was so loved by Liverpool FC fans and Cosme was grateful for the way Jota was embraced on Merseyside. He said: "You guys always received him well, so I think we all have to thank you for the way you welcomed our boy in your land."

Just like everyone in Merseyside, Cosme is stunned after the tragic news and is holding on to those joyful memories from when they were children playing in the garden. He said: "Almost every summer, they would come to my house or we'd go to theirs to play FIFA or cycle to the town, or kick about in the yard.

"His grandma was sad we destroyed the fences. That was the good memories that stayed. I think that's what we have to hold."

The narrow street where Jota and Silva grew up is a real close-knit family community and Cosme's cousin, Tiago Silva, also warmly recalls the good times from playing with the brothers as children.

Revealing their childhood memories to the ECHO, he reminisced: "We played together, we laughed together. We played football on the streets and on the fields at the bottom of the road when I was a child."

Commenting on his rise to stardom, he noted: "When he left for Liverpool, for Porto, for Atletico, we continued to see doors open up for him. He was a real guy. Not interested in fame, or nothing. He was a real good guy."

Their cousin Beatriz Bessa, who also lives on the same street, shared that Jota and Silva's achievements will continue to motivate their local area. The 22-year-old shared, "When we grew up, Diogo became a really good player, but he stayed humble. As all of his family. They were really kind."

Reflecting on the impact these stars have on younger generations, she said: "I have a little brother and when we saw Portugal wasn't playing so well, we always used to say at the TV, 'put Diogo on'. All the kids, my cousins, my brothers, they look at him as a hero."

Despite their international acclaim, the siblings' presence is still warmly felt back home, where they originally hail from the modest lane off Rua da Minhoteira in Sao Cosme. Their grandfather remains a familiar figure at the Clube de Caca e Pesca de Aguiar down the road.

While many might mistake it for a mere hunting club, the venue is actually akin to a cherished local watering hole, oozing with community spirit. Inside, two jerseys from Jota's time with Liverpool FC and Wolves are displayed with enormous pride, showcasing the local lad made good.

Bar proprietors Carlos Sousa and Vanessa Marques, with evident pride, showcase an iconic number 20 red jersey on their wall, a gift from the player himself. In her translation for Carlos, Vanessa remarked: "They are a good family and he was a good child. He used to play football in here. He was a very special person. A very empathetic person."

Cosme fondly recalled: "When we seen them, they were always smiling, they were always happy, they were always happy with their simple life. They are the true meaning that you don't need expensive shoes or expensive equipment to become a footballer. You just have to have love for what you do."

He continued: "They both are the meaning of humble. The passion for football. They never lost their roots here. They never forgot this little town and what we represent. The good memories that we have with them here will always live."