The 28-year-old and his younger brother Andre Silva, also a talented footballer, were tragically killed in Spain on July 3 in a car crash.
After that Wolves fan and artist Joe Miles set up an online appeal for help to create a fitting tribute to his memory in Wolverhampton. The popular forward played for Wolverhampton Wanderers from 2017 to 2020 before moving to Liverpool, with whom he won the Premier League just months before his untimely death.
Memorial mural paying tribute to former Wolves player Diogo Jota
Memorial mural paying tribute to former Wolves player Diogo Jota
The beautiful old-gold-and-black picture on a wall in the grounds of popular pub the Leaping Wolf is now complete. After attracting fans' support Joe, of Birmingham, joined forces with the pub's bosses and other businesses to make the dream a reality. Enough funds were collected towards the cost of the paint, while Smethwick-based firm Summit Platforms donated mechanical lifts so Joe, of Artwork by Joe, could work safely at height.
Ahead of today's (August 16) season opener against Manchester City, streams of of fans made the pilgrimage to the pub off Waterloo Road, near Molineux to view the completed giant artwork for themselves.
Among them was Stafford retailer John Thurley, aged 66, who said: "Players like Diogo Jota come along once in a lifetime. His death was a great tragedy for his family and for the game. We think the artist has done a really good job. That's exactly how he looked."
Wolves fans pay homage at the new memorial mural of Diogo Jota at the Leaping Wolf pub.
Wolves fans pay homage at the new memorial mural of Diogo Jota at the Leaping Wolf pub
Retired pub landlord Alan Jordon, aged 73, also of Stafford, said: "The mural is brilliant. It's brilliant how quickly they've done it and it's going to be on the wall forever. He was a brilliant player. His name used to ring out at every game."
The pair said they felt the club had a 50-50 chance of staying in the Premier League and that the current team had it all to play for.
Inside the stadium Molineux paid tribute to Jota and Silva with huge heartfelt tribute banners, shared with a live, global television audience. Among the most striking tributes was a tifo, which was unfurled in front of the South Bank during player handshakes pre-match.
The tifo project has been led by supporter group Old Gold Pack, who have been also been fundraising in the player's honour.