Diogo Jota could score with his left foot, his right foot, and with his head, but in reality it's with his hands that he was most dangerous in front of goal
16:12, 03 Jul 2025Updated 16:12, 03 Jul 2025
Diogo Jota was obsessed with FIFA
Diogo Jota was obsessed with FIFA(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Diogo Jota will always be remembered for his mesmerising goals on the football pitch.
But despite his success on field, the Liverpool star, who tragically died in a car crash alongside his brother, was perhaps even more of a threat sitting in his living room. The 28-year-old was so obsessed with video game series FIFA that he was at one stage the best in the world, reaching the number one rank globally.
Premier League footballers tend to have a lot of time on their hands, and a group of them organised and took part in a massive FIFA tournament during the initial Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Unsurprisingly, Jota emerged as the winner, beating future Liverpool team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold in the final.
Previously speaking to The Athletic about his love of gaming, he said: "Since my dad gave me my first PlayStation as a kid, it's been like another passion of mine. I always played football on it."
Diogo Jota's FIFA celebration was famous
Diogo Jota's FIFA celebration was famous(Image: Getty Images)
He also claimed no other footballer in the world could beat him at FIFA, and told FourFourTwo that his Liverpool and Portugal team-mates avoided playing him because they knew they didn't stand a chance against him.
Article continues below
Jota set up his own eSports team known as Diogo Jota eSports and regularly streamed matches and videos on Twitch.
He even incorporated his virtual success into his real games of football, adopting a gamer celebration after he scored, where he would sit on the pitch and mimic using a Playstation controller.
Jota had married his wife two weeks before his tragic death
Jota had married his wife two weeks before his tragic death(Image: Getty Images)
The Portugal international died in a car accident on Thursday alongside his brother Andre Silva, 26. The pair died at around 00:30 local time in the Spanish province of Zamora.
Police have said the car they were in – a Lamborghini – left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle. Their car then caught fire, with a picture now showing the harrowing condition it was left in.
Firefighters were called to put out the blaze, which is said to have spread to the surrounding vegetated area. However, they were sadly not able to save the two footballers’ lives.
Jota was once the best in the world at FIFA
Jota was once the best in the world at FIFA(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
According to El País, the fire damage to the bodies prevented the necessary tests from being carried out to confirm beyond any doubt that the two victims were the Liverpool FC footballer and his companion, his brother.
The tragic accident came just 11 days after Jota married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso. His last Instagram post was a video montage of their special day, which involved their three children.
Article continues below
Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring against Tottenham
Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring against Tottenham(Image: Getty Images)
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.