Today (Friday) marks the first anniversary of Diogo Jota's death, and the forward will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Liverpool fans - and not just for what he did on the pitch
04:00, 03 Jul 2026
TOPSHOT - Liverpool's Portuguese striker #20 Diogo Jota lifts the Premier League trophy at the end of the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 25, 2025. Liverpool equalises 1 - 1 against Crystal Palace. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Diogo Jota will be forever remembered at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
One year on, it still doesn’t feel real.
Diogo Jota’s death shook not just Liverpool to its core, but the entire soccer world. A remarkable player taken in his prime, along with his brother - but not just that, a father who was just embarking on the next chapter of his life, having married the love of his life.
Life can be so, so cruel at times, but the outpouring of emotion over the past 12 months has shown that his memory lives on. After all, there are few players who embodied what it is to be a Liverpool player quite so much as Jota.
There really is no reason why a lad from Portugal should entrench himself so firmly into the hearts of people from a city so far away, but he got it straight away. His first message to the fans upon his signing from Wolves in 2020 was perfect, and summed him up so well.
"They can count on me because now I'm one of them," he said.
Over the next few years, he certainly lived up to his promise. You could pick out any number of moments from his time at Anfield, and they would instantly bring a smile to your face as a Liverpool fan.
Liverpool's players huddle in front of a banner bearing a tribute to Diogo Jota during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on December 27, 2025. (Photo by Steven Halliwell/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Diogo Jota's ingrained himself in Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
From his first goal to his final strike against Everton - a goal that felt like it marked the moment when Liverpool became Premier League champions, even if it wasn’t official - Jota built an everlasting connection with supporters, and that was only enhanced by his effervescent personality off it.
He had a sense of humor that chimed in perfectly with the people of Liverpool. Andy Robertson even described him as “the most British foreign player I've ever met”.
In Jota, fans saw a down-to-earth star who played the game how they always wanted to see it. He never lost the feeling of someone who was living out their dream - both on and off the pitch.
Diogo Jota celebrates scoring for Liverpool
Diogo Jota perfectly encapsulated what it means to be a Liverpool player(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
The effect his loss had on those closest to him is immeasurable, and it is something that, even now, should never be forgotten when it comes to his former teammates, and most importantly, his family.
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It feels rather fitting that, on this the first anniversary of his passing, his country was in action at the World Cup. It was Jota’s dream to play at the tournament, a dream that he sadly never got to realize, but Portugal will keep a 12th man at their side this summer.
And his memory lives on at Anfield. The Kop has seen some pretty special players in their time, and for Liverpool’s fans to sing your name is the mark of not only your ability, but a sign that you’ve touched their hearts.
Better than Figo don’t you know, his name is Diogo. Forever Liverpool’s number 20.