“Forever our number 20”: LFC players lead tributes to Diogo Jota

“He will take us to victory,” sang the Liverpool fans in his honour – and Diogo Jota so often did exactly that. The Portugal forward, who tragically passed away in a road traffic accident at the age of 28, was a truly clutch figure for the Reds, in just the right place when his team needed his finishing knack.

He arrived at Anfield in September 2020, enhancing the new Premier League champions’ attacking ranks by making the switch from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Jota’s career had started out in his home country at Pacos de Ferreira and a senior debut in 2014 kicked off a rise to glory in the club and international game.

Signed by Atletico Madrid in 2016, he would not actually appear for the Spanish side, instead enjoying a productive next campaign on loan at FC Porto, honing his scoring skills and gaining Champions League experience.

Another loan, this time to Wolves, beckoned and Jota was a key protagonist in firing the Midlands outfit out of the Championship with 17 goals during 2017-18. Capable of playing across all attacking positions, his work-rate and nimbleness enabled him to foil defenders in all kinds of ways, and those talents were successfully transferred permanently to the Premier League.

Back-to-back seventh-placed finishes for Wolves in England’s top flight came alongside a run to the Europa League last eight in 2019-20 that saw Jota score nine times.

Liverpool then swooped to recruit him and despite the unenviable challenge of forcing his way into a front line already composed of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, his impact was quick and considerable.

Indeed, Jota reached double figures for goals by his 21st Reds appearance, a tally that included a scintillating hat-trick away at Atalanta in the Champions League.

An untimely injury prevented him from continuing that start but he returned to clinical effect, racking up 21 strikes in all competitions as Jürgen Klopp’s side almost achieved a quadruple in 2021-22, lifting the Carabao Cup and Emirates FA Cup.

‘The slotter’ was vital to those triumphs, a brilliant cameo against Leicester City in the quarter-finals of the former followed with a tie-deciding double at Arsenal in the semi-finals, while there was an FA Cup winner in the last eight versus Nottingham Forest.

Though fitness misfortunes prevented Jota from always being able to feature in the seasons that followed, he continued to tot up goals and assists for the cause, relied upon by Klopp and his successor, Arne Slot.

A cool head on the pitch – just remember his 94th-minute Anfield decider against Tottenham Hotspur in April 2023 – and a respected and much-loved teammate off it.

What cruelly has proved to be his final flourish in football saw Jota become a Premier League champion and a UEFA Nations League winner.

The No.20 will be rightly immortalised for his contributions as part of Liverpool’s 2024-25 title-winners – the club’s 20th – with his trademark shimmy and strike in front of the Kop to seal victory in April’s Merseyside derby a poignant last goal of his life.

“To arrive at this particular season with the title that I’ve been chasing for a lot of years and in the best league in the world – for me where I dreamed to play as a kid – it’s a moment I will cherish forever,” he said.

“It is a remarkable achievement for a small guy that came from Gondomar, where I had this dream. To arrive at this moment was outstanding.”

More joy and special moments followed just last month as Portugal – Jota represented his country 49 times and 14 of his overall senior total of 150 goals came in internationals – lifted the Nations League trophy.

And he then celebrated marriage to wife Rute, with whom he had three children, on June 22.

“His name is Diogo,” rang the chorus of that very own supporter chant. And we’ll never forget it.

RIP Diogo Jota, 1996-2025

Liverpool manager and player tributes

Arne Slot

“What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not. All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about. My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss. My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football.

“This is not solely a response to tragedy. It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole. For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate, and in all of those roles he was very special. I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be.

“There were also the parts that not everyone got to see. The person who never sought popularity but found it anyway. Not a friend to two people, a friend to everyone. Someone who made others feel good about themselves just by being with them. A person who cared deeply for his family.

“The last time we spoke, I congratulated Diogo on winning the Nations League and wished him luck for his forthcoming wedding. In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this.

“When I first came to the club, one of the first songs I got to know was the one that our fans sing for Diogo. I had not worked with him previously but I knew straight away that if the Liverpool supporters, who have seen so many great players over the years, had such a unique chant for Diogo, he must have special qualities.

“That we have lost those qualities in such terrible circumstances is something we have not yet come to terms with. For this reason, we need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.

“My condolences go to Diogo’s wife, Rute, their three beautiful children and to the parents of Diogo and Andre Silva. When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten. His name is Diogo.”

Virgil van Dijk

“Man, I can’t believe it, I don’t want to believe it. Absolutely devastated and in total disbelief. What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man. You meant so much to all of us and you always will. A champion forever, number 20 forever. It’s been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it. We will miss you beyond words and never forget you. Your legacy will live on, we will make sure of it! Rest in perfect peace Diogo and Andre. For your family to lose two sons, a husband and a father is just unimaginable. So cruel and unfair. My heart is breaking for all of your beautiful family, for Rute and for your kids. I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family.”

Darwin Nunez

“There are no words of comfort for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field. I send all my strength to his family, from where he is I am sure he will always be with you, especially his wife and three children.”

Harvey Elliott

“Diogo, I can’t believe you’re gone. It’s hard to put into words how much this hurts us. You were an incredible footballer… the kind that made a difference every single time you stepped on the field. You were humble, hardworking, kind, and always there for anyone that needed anything. I feel so lucky to have shared the pitch with you, shared memories and moments I’ll carry with me forever. You’ll always be part of this team, part of the Liverpool family. We will never, ever forget you. My heart goes out to your whole family. Love you brother. Rest easy Diogo and Andre. You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Alexis Mac Allister

“I can’t believe it. I will always remember your smiles, your anger, your intelligence, your companionship and everything that made you a person. It hurts a lot, we will miss you. Rest in peace, dear Diogo.”

Dominik Szoboszlai

“Words cannot describe how heartbroken and devastated we are… Your smile, your love for the game will never be forgotten. We will miss you so much, but you will stay with us forever, on and off the pitch. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Rest in peace, brother.”

Federico Chiesa

“Diogo, it’s hard to find the right words at a time like this. I still cannot believe what happened. Love you and miss you so much. My thoughts are with you and your brother Andre, rest in peace. To your family, to your wife and children, I send my most sincere and heartfelt condolences.”

Cody Gakpo

“I love you brother. May your soul rest in peace.”

Curtis Jones

“It’s hard to find the exact words how this feels. An unbelievable player and a great person to everyone. Grateful we shared so many memories on and off the pitch brother.”

Conor Bradley

“Where do I start. What an incredible footballer but an even better person, I feel really lucky to have spent a few years with you. It was always nice coming into the changing room in the morning and seeing you smiling and laughing and consistently calling me a hanger. I’ll always remember the first time you invited me to your room to play FIFA – I think everyone knows where this is going … by half-time I’m pretty sure I was 5-0 down; that was the last time I was ever falling into that trap. ‍When I first moved up from the academy you were always there for me and always helped me settle in with the lads, which I’ll be forever grateful for. My thoughts are with your wife, children and family for losing both Diogo and Andre. I can’t imagine how tough this is for you all, as I know how tough this feels for me today. Love you, Jots, and I’m sure we will meet again.”

Andy Robertson

“He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real. Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun. He was the most British foreign player I’ve ever met. We used to joke he was really Irish… I’d try to claim him as Scottish, obviously. I even called him Diogo MacJota. I can’t believe we’re saying goodbye. It’s too soon, and it hurts so much.”

Caoimhín Kelleher

“Jots. Can’t believe I’m writing this right now and I’m finding it hard to put into words. I’m absolutely devastated by this news All my thoughts and condolences are with Rute and their three beautiful kids and Diogo and Andre’s family. It was a such a pleasure to get to know you over these years and to share some special memories on the pitch and even more so off it. You became one of my closest friends in football. We bonded over all things sports, watching any football match we could find, often your brother Andre’s game on your iPad. I was surprised a lad from Portugal loved sports such as darts, snooker and horse racing so much and some of my best memories were having a laugh watching them with you. You were such a fun, genuine, normal, down to earth and loving family man, and always very competitive. I’m gonna miss our pre-match programme quiz. I feel so blessed and grateful to have seen you on your happiest day, the day of your wedding and to be able to share in that day with you was special. I’ll never forget it. You were deeply loved by everyone at the club, the city and all over the world. It’s gonna hurt for a long time and I’m gonna miss you so much but I feel so lucky to have got know you and have such a good friend. Love you, Diogo.”

Kostas Tsimikas

“Oh, he wears the number 20 and his name is Diogo. We moved to the club the same period. We were the new boys in the city. We shared and celebrated some of our best moments of our careers together. Before one of our last ones you said to me, ‘You cross, I score’, and that’s what happened. We laughed and we talked about lots. You were a special player, a special guy, a true legend, Diogo. You’ll always be remembered and always be loved. My heart and my prayers are with your Rute, your boys, your little girl, your family and everyone who loved and waited for you both to go home. You and your brother Andre will be missed forever.”

Wataru Endo

“Jots, I still can’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it. What a great player, what a great person you were. You will be remembered forever. My thoughts are with your wife, kids, and all family and friends. Love you Jots. Rest in Peace Diogo and Andre. You’ll Never Walk Alone.”