The late Liverpool forward is expected to be honoured when the Reds meet Wolves in the FA Cup on Friday evening
Liverpool attacker Jota died along with his brother Andre Silva at the start of July after a car crash in Spain
Liverpool attacker Jota died along with his brother Andre Silva at the start of July after a car crash in Spain(Image: PA Wire)
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It's been just over eight months since Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a car crash. The Reds and Wolves, the club Liverpool signed Jota from in 2020, will meet in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday night.
The Midlands outfit are set to pay a touching tribute to the striker before the game through a painting by former Wolves star Jody Craddock, with the match sitself et to be screened lived on the BBC.
Liverpool icon Jota, 28, and Andre, 25, were killed in the early hours of July 3, 2025. Their journey was born out of practical purposes as the Portugal international was unable to fly due to a recent lung operation.
The Lamborghini Huracan carrying Jota and his brother veered off the road, bursting into flames. Following his lung surgery, Jota had been cautioned against flying and was instead driving to Santander.
He and his brother intended to reach England on a ferry via Benavente. They were eventually set to dock in Portsmouth, but never arrived.
A police investigation concluded a tyre blowout occurred while Jota attempted to overtake another vehicle on the A-52, some 70 miles west of Valladolid. This then led to the car coming off the road around 12.40am and becoming engulfed in flames.
Diogo Jota
Diogo Jota will never be forgotten by Liverpool fans(Image: PA)
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Firefighters and emergency services managed to extinguish the fire. However, it was confirmed not long after that both occupants had tragically lost their lives shortly after help had arrived at the scene.
Reports claimed the fire damage to the wreckage was so extensive that it initially hindered efforts to identify the two victims.
Discussing the brother's travel arrangements following Jota's operation, CNN Portugal's Rui Laura said: "The surgery he had had was lung surgery, and he had been advised against flying following this.
"He was on his way to the northern Spanish port city of Santander to cross the ferry and reach the UK that way and carry on with the car once he reached Britain. He was on his way to Liverpool with his brother."
The Portuguese striker had just tied the knot with wife Rute Cardoso, 11 days prior to the devastating incident. The football community was left reeling by the sudden loss, with fans and fellow professionals from around the world paying their respects.
The FA Cup fixture is the second time this week that Liverpool and Wolves have met. Arne Slot's side lost 2-1 to Rob Edwards's outfit in the Premier League on Tuesday night.
Both sets of fans used the 18th minute of the fixture to sing about Jota in unison, with the game representing the first tie between the sides at Molineux since the brothers' tragic passing.
Liverpool fans display a banner dedicated to former Wolves and Liverpool player Diogo Jota during the Premier League match between Wolves and Liverpool
Liverpool fans display a banner dedicated to former Wolves and Liverpool player Diogo Jota during the Premier League match between Wolves and Liverpool(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Jota wore the number 18 jersey during his time at Wolves, which is why there was applause during that moment of the game. Wolves fans also held up a large banner, while loud chants of 'Diogo' rang out.
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The Liverpool supporters in the away end joined in and displayed a banner of their own, which read: 'Obrigado Diogo, forever our number 20'.
In their first home game of the Premier League season, Wolves had also paid tribute to their former player. The club unveiled a gigantic tifo from the top of Molineux's South Bank stand ahead of the team's game against Manchester City.
The Portuguese international spent three seasons at Molineux between 2017 and 2020, playing a crucial role in restoring and establishing Wolves' status as a Premier League outfit. He went on to score 65 goals in 182 games for Liverpool, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.