Liverpool's tribute to Diogo Jota in full: Reds hail ‘truly clutch figure' following forward's heartbreaking death
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LIVERPOOL have led tributes following the tragic death of Diogo Jota.
The 28-year-old died in a car crash while driving through Zamora, Spain, in a Lamborghini when a tyre suddenly burst and sent the car veering off the road before igniting into flames.
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Liverpool have paid tribute following the tragic death of Diogo Jota
Credit: Reuters
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The club described him as a truly clutch figure'
Credit: Reuters
The horrific incident killed both Jota and his younger brother, 25-year-old André Silva, who played for Portuguese second-tier club Penafiel.
Jota is survived by his childhood sweetheart, Rute, whom he had married only 10 days earlier, and three children.
Tributes and well-wishes poured in from all over the world since the heartbreaking news came to light.
This included team-mates and managers, past and present, and numerous celebrities and prominent figures.
On Thursday evening, Liverpool themselves posted a lengthy homage to the late attacker, describing him as a "truly clutch figure" before announcing they would "immortalise" his No20 shirt number.
The club's statement, which recounted his career with the Anfield outfit said: "'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 has 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.
Portugal manager in tears as fans hold up Diogo Jota pictures during Women's Euro minute's silence for Liverpool star.mp4
"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 team-mate 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."
Jota's and Silva's funerals will be in their hometown of Gondomar near the Portuguese city of Porto.
Local priest Jose Manuel Macedo initially announced the ceremonies would take place at 4pm on Friday before confirming they had been rescheduled to Saturday morning.
Father Macedo said a wake would take place at Sao Cosme Chapel before the funeral mass on Saturday morning at the Catholic church next door - the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.
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Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Grieving Liverpool stars arrive to pay tribute to Diogo Jota: Arne Slot and Virgil Van Dijk join ex-skipper Jordan Henderson in Portugal as heartbroken teammates pay their respects
Diogo Jota's Liverpool teammates past and present flew to Portugal to pay their respects to their fallen friend, who died this week in a tragic car crash alongside his brother Andre. A number of the current squad were given a round of applause by mourners as they were pictured going into the Chapel of the Resurrection, including Virgil Van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Andy Robertson, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Kelleher, Federico Chiesa, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and manager Arne Slot. A number of Liverpool alumni also made the trip, such as James Milner and Jordan Henderson, who jetted straight to Portugal after paying a heartfelt tribute during a tearful return to Anfield earlier in the day. Henderson was Jota's captain when the Portuguese arrived in September 2020, the pair quickly developing a close friendship, and the England international was left in a state of disbelief by the news of the car crash that claimed the lives of Jota and Silva. Hundreds of mourners lined the streets of Gondomar to pay tribute to the Liverpool at the city's chapel. Fans snaked around the Portuguese principality as the tearful crowd queued to honour the footballer before his funeral tomorrow - alongside a host of Premier League stars including Manchester City icon Bernando Silva, Manchester United 's Diogo Dalot and Nottingham Forest 's Jota Silva. Liverpool's chief executive of football Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes also flew in to lead a club delegation at the wake. Mourners sobbed and carried roses and national team scarves in homage to Jota, who won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal less than a month ago. Aerial footage showed queues stretching from the small chapel, around the corner to the nearby church where his funeral will be held. Diogo Jota's heartbroken wife and parents gathered at a wake and held a vigil at the coffins of the former Wolves striker and his brother Andre as the world of football mourned their deaths today. Jota's wife Rute Cardoso, who only married the 28-year-old footballer last month on June 22, walked into Sao Cosme Chapel in Gondomar after returning with her husband's body from Spain late last night. The city overlooking Porto is where the couple met and started dating as teenagers. They married less than two weeks ago and have three young children. It is believed the bodies of Diogo and Andre Silva are lying in the Chapel of Rest, which is behind the main church. It came as Diogo's friend, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, wiped away tears as he laid flowers and a scarf outside Anfield this afternoon. The father of Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva is conforted by a woman during the wake for his two sons in Gondomar Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro arrives for the brothers' wake at the Sao Cosme Chapel in the town of Gondomar near Porto He was overwhelmed as he looked at the flowers and other tributes Former captain of Liverpool Jordan Henderson hugging with Diogo Jota last year. Jordan wept for him today Diogo and Andre's mother Isabel, father Joaquim and their grandfather were emotional on arriving at the chapel. Joaquim hugged several people and was supported by his brother and later raised a hand to mourners as he left with his wife. They returned around an hour later. Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro also attended the wake along with Diogo's agent Jorge Mendes. The President of Portugal, Marcelo de Sousa, came later. The mood outside Sao Cosme Chapel was one of respectful silence and contemplation today. There is a major police presence and officers taped off roads and installed barriers near the church. Even on the streets beyond, in the restaurants and cafes of this Porto suburb, the mood is subdued and silent. Father-of-three Diogo Jota was killed in the early hours of yesterday morning along with his footballer brother Andre Silva, 26. Their acid green 200mph £180,000 Lamborghini Huracan burst into flames after a suspected tyre blowout on the A-52 highway near Zamora in north-west Spain. No other vehicles were involved, police have said. The brothers were on a road trip to the northern Spanish port city of Santander to catch a ferry to the UK after the Liverpool player and Portuguese international was advised not to travel by plane following lung surgery. Family members were filmed embracing each other as they broke down in tears before walking together towards the chapel. The wake proper is set to start around 4pm, with Portugal's president Marcelo de Sousa confirming he will be among those arriving at that time to pay their last respects ahead of a funeral mass in the neighbouring church - the Igrega Matriz de Gondomar - at 10am tomorrow. It is not yet clear how public the wake will be. The chapel and neighbouring church are around a half-hour drive from the church in Porto where Diogo and his wife got married less than two weeks ago. Local priest Jose Manuel Macedo initially revealed the funeral would take place at 4pm today before confirming yesterday evening it had been put back to tomorrow morning. 'We're available to celebrate [their life] with everyone and to share the pain and the Christian hope,' Macedo told CNN. Jota and his wife after Liverpool won the title in May It is understood the delay was linked to minor paperwork issues the men's loved ones, who were still in Spain until late yesterday, were trying to resolve before being able to repatriate the bodies. Gondomar Town Hall issued an emotional statement late yesterday as it confirmed it had decreed a day of official mourning. It said: 'Gondomar Town Hall expresses its deepest sympathy at the death of international footballer Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, illustrious Gondomar residents who left prematurely, leaving behind a remarkable sporting career and an example of dedication and professionalism. 'Throughout his career, Diogo Jota stood out for his footballing talent and for the committed way in which he always represented the region and the country, winning national and international recognition. 'At this time of sorrow and consternation, Gondomar Town Hall extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of these two Gondomar residents. 'By way of tribute, the Mayor of Gondomar Luis Filipe Araujo, has decreed by official order a day of municipal mourning to be observed this Friday, 4 July. 'During this period, the municipal flag will be flown at half-mast in all municipal buildings and facilities.' The mayor described Diogo Jota today as 'an extraordinary talent and a true ambassador for Gondomar' where he grew up and went to school. The bodies of Diogo and his brother were greeted by heartbroken supporters and applause as their coffins arrived at a church in Portugal ahead of their funeral tomorrow. Mourners will gather early this morning to pay their respects at a wake in Gondomar after Jota, 28, and his sibling died in a fiery crash in the early hours on Thursday. Dozens were already standing outside at the church last night and tears rolled down their faces as the hearses transporting the two bodies arrived after 11pm. The tyre of Jota's Lamborghini Huracan is said to have blown out while overtaking another vehicle on the A-52 at Cernadilla near Zamora, just ten miles over the border from Portugal. The supercar then came off the road, rolled and burst into flames. The acid green front of what appears to be the front of Jota's Lamborghini Huracan lies at the side of the road where the incident took place in the early hours of Thursday morning The crash, which took place at around 12.35am, also ignited the surrounding vegetation. The emergency services were called but the brothers could not be saved. Police have said they do not know who had been behind the wheel. Spanish government official Angel Blanco said the siblings died at the scene. On Thursday afternoon, hearses were spotted arriving at a funeral home in the Spanish town of Puebla de Sanabria, where the bodies were taken after the incident. Jota's agent Jorge Mendes was pictured accompanying the player's mother as they entered the funeral home, and he told reporters it was a 'very difficult' time. 'We lost two great people. Diogo is an example as a person, husband, son, professional. I still can't believe it, it's very difficult,' said Mendes, in tears. The hearses later departed for Gondomar. This morning's wake will take place just a half-hour drive from Jota's home city of Porto, northern Portugal - where just two weeks ago the 28-year-old married his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso in a service packed with family and friends. Jota and his brother Andre, 26, were reportedly on a road trip to Santander to catch a ferry to Britain after he was advised not to fly following lung surgery. Local priest Jose Manuel Macedo said the wake will take place at Sao Cosme Chapel before the funeral Saturday at the Catholic church next door - the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar (pictured) Jota is pictured (far right) with his wife Rute and younger brother Andre Tyre marks can be seen on the road where Jota's Lamborghini overtook a car and then collided straight into the crash barriers. Tragically the crash claimed the lives of the two brothers Liverpool are due to start pre-season training on Monday, so Jota was heading back to the UK on a road trip. A Brittany Ferries service from Santander to Plymouth left at 4pm on Thursday, arriving in Devon at 11.15am on Friday. The football club said in a statement that they were 'devastated' by the tragedy and that Diogo's family, friends and fans had suffered an 'unimaginable loss '. Flowers and tributes have been laid outside Anfield by supporters in tears. Jota had just married the mother of his three children and partner since the age of 16. He had described himself as the luckiest man in the world to be her husband, sharing footage of their wedding day in his final Instagram post on Wednesday. Rute shared more wedding day pictures in a social media post and said: 'My dream come true.' Jota then replied in the comments: 'I'm the lucky one.' The pair got together in 2013, it has been reported, and have three children together - two sons and a daughter who was born in November. Jota was part of Liverpool's Premier League-winning side in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring six goals in 26 appearances. He also played for Portugal's national team and helped them win the Nations League last month. His younger brother played for Penafiel, in the second tier of Portuguese football. The Spanish civil guard said Jota was found dead at the scene alongside his brother. Jota's agent Jorge Mendes was emotional when he arrived at the funeral home Two hearses were spotted arriving at the funeral home in the town of Puebla de Sanabria Police are investigating the cause of the crash but believe based on the marks on the road, pictured, a tyre blew out just before the incident The vegetation roadside caught fire after the incident (pictured) The couple have three children, pictured at Anfield in May after winning the Premier League 'The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire,' they said. '1-1-2 notified the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU) of this accident. 'From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center were sent, who confirmed the death of two people on the scene.' The Portuguese national football team said they are 'devastated' by the death of Jota, adding he 'was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but an extraordinary person who was respected by all his teammates and opponents '. His death was confirmed by Pedro Proenca, head of the Portuguese Football Federation, who said in a statement: 'The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, on Thursday morning, in Spain. 'Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 matches for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself. 'On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, lined up the players. 'The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute's silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women's European Championship. Lost to two champs. The happy couple with their children Denis, Duarte, and a daughter born in 2024 They showed off their rings after exchanging vows in front of family and friends Jota and Rute leave the church. They later said that they had both said: 'Yes to forever.' Jota described himself as the luckiest man in the world in an interview 'The disappearance of Diogo and Andre Silva represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to, daily, honor their legacy'. Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and won three major trophies with the Merseyside club - including the Premier League title last season. Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota's friend and teammate, said on Thursday: 'It doesn't make any sense. Just now we were together for the national team, you were just married. 'To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Read More BREAKING NEWS Diogo Jota's funeral to start today: Liverpool star being taken home to Portugal after fiery crash 'RIP, Diogo and Andre. We will miss you.' Liverpool boss Arne Slot penned a touching tribute to Jota, vowing he will 'never be forgotten'. He began: '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.' There were also tributes from the likes of Jurgen Klopp, who described Jota as his 'great friend', as well as Liverpool team-mates Virgil van Dijk, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Palmeiras v Chelsea: Club World Cup quarter-final
Update: Date: 2025-07-05T00:01:47.000Z Title: Preamble Content: One side of the Club World Cup semi-finals will be all-European. Will the other side be all-Brazilian? Fluminense have booked their place in the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Al-Hilal, the Saudi team that eliminated Manchester City in the Game of the Century (so far). Can Palmeiras join them and set up the ultimate showdown of Rio vs. São Paulo (aka Carioca vs. Paulista)? Or will this upstart club from London called Chelsea knock them out? Chelsea will be playing through off-field distractions – a hefty fine from Uefa and the tragic death of Liverpool's Diogo Jota, whose close friend Pedro Neto may miss this match. This quarter-final is a rematch of the 2021 final, which Chelsea won 2-1 in extra time. Chelsea that year featured a young American named Christian Pulisic. We understand he's no longer there. Update: Date: 2025-07-05T00:00:56.000Z Title: Beau will be here shortly. Content: In the meantime here's Jacob Steinberg's latest dispatch from Philadelphia.
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Nuno Borges dons black ribbon as Jota tribute after football top request denied
Instead he wore a black ribbon pinned to his hat during Friday's third-round defeat against Karen Khachanov, but said his team had initially pushed for a more visible tribute. 'I know Wimbledon is usually not very flexible with attire,' Borges told the PA news agency. Nuno Borges was beaten in a thriller (John Walton/PA) 'But I was told we could still do something to pay our respects for what happened, so I think it was a nice gesture. 'He was a great footballer. It was a tragedy.' Borges, who lost a five-set thriller to the 17th seed, said his agent contacted Wimbledon about the idea of wearing a Portugal shirt, and even tried to source a white version to comply with dress rules, but it was not approved. 'We initially talked about getting a full jersey to walk on court,' he said. 'I even tried to find one in white, but it was turned down, so we ended up doing something a little smaller.' Francisco Cabral of Portugal wearing a black ribbon in memory of compatriot Diogo Jota (Mike Egerton/PA) Asked if Wimbledon should have allowed the shirt, he said: 'I think that's what makes Wimbledon special and different from every other slam, so I really don't know.' Wimbledon relaxed its 148-year-old dress code in light of Jota's death, allowing players to wear black ribbons or armbands. Borges was among several players who did, including fellow Portuguese doubles player Francisco Cabral. Cabral, who wore a ribbon on his shirt sleeve during a doubles match with Lucas Miedler, said: 'Yesterday the idea of wearing a black strap came up – that was not allowed. 'I asked for permission to use the black ribbon and they let me play with it.' He described it as 'an honour', adding: 'It was not for the best reason – he was an inspiration not only for me but for the country in general. A close up of the black ribbon being worn by Francisco Cabral (Mike Egerton/PA) 'He made so much in the sport and conquered so much in my life. If I helped 1% for the family I will be super happy.' Cabral and Miedler lost their second-round match in straight sets to Czech pair Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl. Wimbledon's dress code has long restricted visible colour on court, and tributes are rarely granted. The gesture marked a rare moment of flexibility from organisers, after the deaths of Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who were killed in Spain while travelling to catch a ferry to England. British doubles player and Liverpool fan Neal Skupski had also taken a black armband for his match on Thursday, but opted not to wear it after learning of the death of his grandmother shortly after coming off court. He said he may wear one 'in the next couple of days'.
