Trent Alexander-Arnold has paid a touching tribute to his former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota, who tragically lost his life in a car accident last summer
Bruna Reis
07:52, 19 Feb 2026
Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates with Diogo Jota
Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates with Diogo Jota(Image: PA)
Former Liverpool player Trent Alexander-Arnold's most recent heartfelt gesture honouring the late Diogo Jota has caught supporters' attention. The Portuguese striker sadly died in a car crash last July, along with his brother Andre Silva, in Spain's Zamora region of Sanabria.
Liverpool withdrew the number 20 jersey as a mark of respect, and fans still sing Jota's name at fixtures. His legacy lives on through various tributes, with both Anfield and Molineux – where he previously played for Wolves – serving as memorial sites where supporters can pay homage.
The football community united to remember the two men following their untimely deaths. A group of Liverpool players, headed by Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson, travelled to the funeral service in Gondomar, Porto.
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Van Dijk and Robertson brought floral arrangements displaying the squad numbers Jota and Silva wore at their clubs.
Despite Alexander-Arnold's departure from Liverpool several months prior to Jota's passing, he has continued to honour his memory.
Upon his return to Anfield wearing Real Madrid colours, he left flowers alongside a moving message dedicated to 'Forever 20,' calling Jota a dear friend who 'lit up the room. '.
The duo shared a strong bond during their Liverpool days, and now the England star has opted to feature Jota's squad number on his footwear – a gesture to keep his mate symbolically present wherever he takes to the pitch.
Trent Alexander-Arnold pays tribute with his boots
Trent Alexander-Arnold pays tribute with his boots
Sharp-eyed supporters noticed that Alexander-Arnold's boots display the number 20 alongside an infinity symbol.
Alexander-Arnold was spotted wearing the boots during Madrid's 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League play-off against Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday evening.
The 27 year old spent five campaigns playing with Jota at Liverpool before making the switch to Spanish heavyweights Madrid.
Speaking after the game with Benfica, he slammed the alleged racist abuse targeted at Vinicius Jr. He said: "I think when you see something like that [the referee activating a racism protocol] you know it's something serious, a serious incident and that's what has happened.
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"What has been reported is a disgrace to football. It's a disgrace to the sport, a disgrace in society as well. There's no place for it. It's ruined the night for everyone.
"We hope that there is an investigation and that justice will be served to the player."
Jota, for his part, joined Liverpool from Wolves in September 2020. The striker proved instrumental in the Reds' Premier League title triumph last term, featuring in 26 matches and netting six goals.