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Afolabi Ezekiel - July 5, 2025
Diogo Jota’s 2025 summer should have been his most memorable, a celebration of personal milestones and professional triumphs. The 28-year-old had just helped Liverpool clinch their historic 20th league title and lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy with Portugal for a second time.
Days after marrying his long-time partner Rute Cardoso, Jota was preparing to return to Merseyside for pre-season, eager for another chapter in his flourishing career. But in the early hours of a Thursday morning, tragedy struck.
Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in north-western Spain, abruptly ending the life of a footballer at the peak of his powers, and a man universally loved on and off the pitch.
The loss reverberated far beyond Anfield and the Portuguese national team. Football fans, players, coaches, and clubs around the world paid tribute to Jota, who was more than just an elite attacker, he was a symbol of perseverance, humility, and joy.
Jota’s rise was never scripted. Born in Massarelos, Portugal, he began playing with Gondomar, a lesser-known side just outside Porto. Overlooked by Portugal’s elite academies, he didn’t enjoy the privileges afforded to many of his peers. He once revealed that at 16, he was still paying to play football. His determination saw him break through at Pacos de Ferreira in 2014 before earning a move to Atletico Madrid two years later.
Despite never playing a competitive game for Atletico, Jota’s career flourished during loan spells, first at Porto, then at Wolverhampton Wanderers. At Wolves, he became a talisman under Nuno Espirito Santo, leading them to Premier League promotion and dazzling fans with his skill and tenacity. His FA Cup goal against Manchester United in 2019 is etched in Wolves folklore. That moment made Molineux shake to its foundations.
Liverpool secured Jota’s signature in 2020, paying £45 million to bolster an already formidable attack. He didn’t flinch at the challenge of competing with Salah, Mane, and Firmino. Instead, he thrived. He scored on his Anfield debut, and remarkably, found the net in each of his first four home league appearances, a first in the club’s history.
Known as “Jota the Slotter” for his deadly finishing, he accumulated 65 goals in 182 games, despite injuries halting his momentum at times. His goals weren’t just statistics, they were often match-defining. A last-minute winner against Spurs, a brace in a League Cup semi-final, and his final strike, a slick solo effort against Everton all showcased his knack for big moments.
Jamie Carragher once called him Liverpool’s best finisher in the Premier League era. His aerial prowess defied his 5ft 10in frame. His work rate was unmatched. “A pressing monster,” Klopp’s assistant Pep Lijnders called him. “Angry Jota” was how his teammates described the version of him who hunted down defenders with fiery tenacity.
Yet Jota’s greatness wasn’t confined to the pitch. He was beloved for his humility, warmth, and infectious smile. Former teammates described him as shy but engaging, competitive yet gentle. He was tight-knit with Liverpool’s South American players and widely adored across every club he graced. Even reporters who interviewed him described him as someone who made them feel seen, valued, and comfortable.
He was obsessed with football, not just playing it, but living it. A top-ranked FIFA video game player and founder of an eSports team, Luna Galaxy, he blended his professional world with his personal passion. His goal celebration, pretending to play a video game controller wasn’t just fun, it was authentically him.
And he was more than a footballer. Jota openly discussed mental health, urging fellow players and fans alike to speak up. “Saying your fears out loud helps,” he said in a 2024 interview. That vulnerability, rare among elite athletes, made him even more respected.
Fans remember moments. Jota gave them plenty. Like his last-minute goal against Spurs in 2023, a strike that turned despair into jubilation at Anfield.
He was also a man of family. Just days before the accident, he’d married Rute, with whom he had three children. He was devoted to them, regularly speaking about balancing his career with being a father and husband. To his teammates, he was a friend. To his wife, a partner. To his kids, a hero.
The shock of his passing united the football world. From Cristiano Ronaldo to Jurgen Klopp, from Wolves to Penafiel, the outpouring of grief was vast and heartfelt. UEFA and FIFA held moments of silence. Liverpool pledged to honor him with lasting tributes. Portuguese football authorities called his loss “irreparable.”
Even Manchester United, Liverpool’s fiercest rivals, sent condolences. Atletico Madrid expressed disbelief. Pacos de Ferreira, where it all began, said he would remain “an eternal reference point” and vowed to preserve his legacy.
In just 28 years, Diogo Jota lived a footballer’s dream and a human’s truth. From the muddy pitches of Gondomar to the lights of Anfield and the world stage with Portugal, he left footprints impossible to erase.
He was a player of grit, skill, and intelligence. But more than that, he was a man of grace, humility, and kindness. Football was his craft, but love was his legacy, love for his family, teammates, fans, and the game itself.
His number 20 shirt may no longer run down the wing at Anfield, but his name will echo forever in the songs, stories, and hearts of those he touched.
Rest in peace, Diogo Jota, a brilliant footballer, and an even better man.
