Jota and his younger sibling, Andre Silva, lost their lives in a fatal road accident in Zamora, located in the northwest of Spain, after their vehicle blew a tyre during an overtaking maneuver. ..Continue Reading
Saddeningly, the incident occurred only weeks after Jota wed his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shares three children.
A few days later, the funeral was held for the brothers, attended by manager Arne Slot and several of Jota’s Liverpool teammates, who had celebrated their Premier League triumph alongside him just months earlier.
Liverpool acted swiftly to pay their respects by retiring Jota’s No. 20 shirt across all club levels and have now revealed additional lasting tributes in his honor.
According to a statement on the club’s official site, the thousands of tokens, including scarves, jerseys, and fan-made art, that formed a temporary shrine have been carefully gathered and preserved, with floral items being turned into compost for gardens at Anfield, Melwood, and the AXA Training Centre.
Other items will be upcycled and crafted into a commemorative sculpture to be placed outside Anfield at a later date.
While touring Asia for their pre-season fixtures, Liverpool players will sport a jersey patch reading ‘Diogo J. 20’ as a tribute.
Beginning August 1, Liverpool’s new Adidas kits will feature a ‘Forever 20’ insignia imprinted on match-day uniforms and jackets for the remainder of the season.
Supporters who wish to honor Jota can still choose to print his name on replica shirts, with all proceeds directed to the LFC Foundation — which will launch a youth football project in his memory.
Each pre-season game will include floral arrangements on the pitch, while a moment of silence will be observed ahead of the Premier League opener against Bournemouth on Friday, August 15.
The club said “further details will be shared with supporters in due course” and thanked fans for “their continued support”.
Liverpool fell to a 2-4 defeat to AC Milan in Hong Kong before playing Yokohama F. Marinos at the Nissan Stadium prior to a double-header with Athletic Club on August 4 – six days before Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley.
