Rute Cardoso finds moment of levity through fitness training

Rute Cardoso, the widow of Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota, has shared a rare moment of levity following a period of intense mourning. Cardoso, 29, lost her husband in a car accident in Spain in the summer of 2025, just eleven days after their wedding. The accident, which also claimed the life of Jota's brother, occurred while the brothers were traveling from Portugal to England.

Cardoso has turned to intensive physical training, including running, boxing, and Hyrox, to cope with her grief. A recent video posted by her personal trainer, Filipe Morais, captured a humorous interaction during a workout. In the clip, Morais jokingly motivated Cardoso by calling her ‘refrigerator,’ telling her to train until she was ‘the color of a refrigerator.’

Cardoso reacted to the video on social media with amusement, noting she had not realized the nickname during the actual session. The moment has been met with support from followers, who praised her resilience and dedication to fitness during a difficult time.