It is one year since the passing of Diogo Jota, a tragedy that shook Liverpool Football Club and left an irreplaceable void in the lives of those who loved him.
On July 3, 2025, the unimaginable news broke of the 28-year-old’s passing alongside his brother Andre Silva in a car accident.
Tributes poured in from the world of football and beyond, commemorating the loss of two young men who had a world of possibilities before them.
We remembered, and still do, a player who embodied what it meant to play for Liverpool, and the humble, much-loved man off the pitch.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, April 2, 2025: Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring the winning goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC, the 246th Merseyside Derby, at Anfield. Liverpool won 1-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Twelve months on from the tragedy, Jota’s legacy remains. His No. 20 shirt has been retired, ‘Forever 20′ was embroidered on the players’ walkout jackets, and a permanent memorial sculpture has been created, among other touching tributes.
Jota was a player who delivered in the most crucial moments, was relentless yet fair, and was adored by the supporters who were fortunate enough to witness his talent every week.
Here, we look back and commemorate our No. 20 through the iconic images that defined his five years in a Liverpool shirt, and highlight the outpouring of tributes in the year since his death.
Tottenham stunned and an iconic celebration born (2023)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 30, 2023: Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring the fourth goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
A draw felt inevitable, despite having been 3-0 up, and yet Jota was the calmest man inside Anfield when he slotted a finish that won the Reds the game and injured Jurgen Klopp‘s hamstring!
It was classic Jota, and his controller celebration would go on to serve as a touching tribute from players across various sporting codes in the aftermath of his death.
Jota double takes Liverpool to Wembley (2022)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Thursday, January 20, 2022: Liverpool's Diogo Jota (C) celebrates after scoring the second goal during the Football League Cup Semi-Final 2nd Leg match between Arsenal FC and Liverpool FC at the Emirates Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Jota and Arsenal were quite the combination, although the Gunners won’t have the same fond memories as we do!
At the Emirates, Jota struck twice either side of halftime to book a place in the League Cup final, giving life to the song we all adore.
‘Oh, he wears the number 20. He will take us to victory’
Leicester told where to go! (2021)
Diogo Jota celebrates vs Leicester, League Cup penalties (Alamy Photo)
If any game showed he was one of us, it was this one.
After what felt like endless poverty chants from the away end, Jota told them where to go after scoring the sixth penalty in the shootout.
He had already played his part in sending the game to extra time, but he took exception to what he heard and made sure it was known.
Everton sunk by the boot of Jota (2025)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, April 2, 2025: Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC, the 246th Merseyside Derby, at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
In the pursuit of the title, Liverpool needed a goal to break the deadlock against Everton. Who stepped up? Jota, of course!
It was a trademark cool finish, and it would be the last of his Liverpool career.
This is how we choose to remember him.
Luis Diaz’s shirt held up after father kidnapped (2023)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 29, 2023: Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring the opening goal by displaying the shirt of team-mate Luis Díaz, who's parents were kidnaped in Colombia, during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
If you wanted a glimpse into the man Jota was, this was it.
Luis Diaz‘s father was kidnapped in Colombia, and after scoring against Nottingham Forest at Anfield, he ran to the touchline and held a shirt with Diaz’s name and number in the air in solidarity.
He cared deeply, and it showed.
A Premier League Champion (2025)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 25, 2025: Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates with the trophy after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It was only fitting that Jota’s final moments at Anfield saw him lift the Premier League trophy and have a moment with the Kop as they sang his song.
No one knew it was a goodbye, but he was shown how much he was loved and cherished.
Anfield pays its respects
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool supporters create a mosaic to pay tribute to Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in July, on the Spion Kop before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 15, 2025: Liverpool supporters' banner "Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda - Anfield will always be your home" as the supporters pay tribute to Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in July, before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Before the opening game of last season, Anfield paid tribute to Jota and his brother with a pre-match mosaic in what proved an incredibly emotional moment.
The Kop also had a touching banner that read: ‘Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda – Anfield will always be your home. You’ll Never Walk Alone’
Murals in honour of Jota
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, August 8, 2025: An aerial view of a mural dedicated to Liverpool's number 20 Diogo Jota. The mural was painted in tribute to the Liverpool player who died in a car crash in July and has been adorned with messages written by supporters. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Several brilliant murals have been created in Jota’s honour in the year since his passing, forever immortalising his place around Anfield.
Virgil van Dijk walks out at Anfield with Jota’s sons
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, December 27, 2025: Dinis and Duarte, Diogo Jota's children, as mascots with Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
In the meeting between Wolves and Liverpool at Anfield, Virgil van Dijk walked onto the field with Jota’s sons, Dinis and Duarte, who were among the mascots.
“It was an absolute honour to have the boys with me and Ali [Alisson] as well together,” Van Dijk said.
“I was very proud to have them with us and the fans I think appreciated that as well.”
Diogo Jota’s permanent Anfield memorial
In the aftermath of Jota’s death, the grass verges opposite the Main Stand on 97 Avenue became a place where supporters paid their tributes to the No. 20.
It is now where Liverpool will erect his permanent tribute, titled ‘Forever 20’.
It celebrates both Jota and his brother, Andre. The sculpture, when viewed from different angles, reveals the numbers 20 and 30, their respective shirt numbers.
Forever missed. Forever our No. 20.