Diogo Jota remembered after fatal 2025 car accident

Diogo Jota’s death remains a defining loss for Liverpool and Portugal, months after the forward and his brother André Silva died in a car accident in Spain on July 3, 2025. Jota was 28 and had been a key figure for both club and country.

Liverpool retired the number 20 shirt worn by Jota across every level of the club nine days after his death. The decision followed tributes from teammates and supporters, including a memorial before the club’s first match back at Anfield. Mohamed Salah later shared an emotional tribute with Liverpool fans, while Chelsea allocated part of its Club World Cup bonuses to the families of Jota and André Silva.

Jota’s legacy has also been carried into Portugal’s national team. His close friend Rúben Neves will wear the number 21 for the country, while coach Roberto Martínez described Jota’s memory as a source of unity, motivation and responsibility. Neves also honoured him with a tattoo depicting the two friends together.

The tributes have not always been respectful. A minute’s silence before Liverpool’s Community Shield match was disrupted by Crystal Palace supporters, drawing criticism from captain Virgil van Dijk and coach Arne Slot. In Saudi Arabia, Al-Taawoun supporters invoked Jota’s name to provoke Neves during a match against Al-Hilal.