Thiago Alcantara was among the legends to feature in a charity match between Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, during which a minute's applause took place to remember Diogo Jota
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, March 28, 2026: Liverpool's Thiago Alcântara looks emotional as the players stop the game at 20 minutes to applaud to pay tribute to Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in July, during the LFC Foundation match between Liverpool FC Legends and Borussia Dortmund Legends at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Thiago Alcantara was visibly emotional(Image: David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
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Former Liverpool star Thiago Alcantara broke down in tears during a tribute to Diogo Jota. Thiago, 34, was playing in a charity match at Anfield on Saturday.
The ex-Reds midfielder arrived at Liverpool alongside Jota in the summer of 2020 and they spent the next four years as team-mates. Jota tragically died in a car crash last July aged 28.
In the 20th minute of Saturday's game between legends from Liverpool and German side Borussia Dortmund, play was brought to a halt as a minute's applause took place. Thiago was visibly emotional and was seen wiping away tears with his shirt.
Following Jota's death, Thiago paid tribute on Instagram. "I love you brother ," the former Spain international, who also attended Jota's funeral, wrote. "You will forever be with us."
Saturday marked the first legends' match at Anfield since Jota's passing. Jurgen Klopp was back at Anfield as an assistant for Kenny Dalglish, helping guide a side which also included Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia. Thiago had scored to put Liverpool 1-0 up in the first half. Jay Spearing then doubled the Reds' lead with a long-range strike before Dortmund mounted a comeback, as it finished 2-2.
Earlier this week, James Milner become the latest ex-team-mate to pay tribute to Jota. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Milner said: "We were pretty close.
"When you have team-mates, and that team spirit, and the amount of time you spend together. He was one of us straight away, always sat on our table, he was such a great guy.
"He bought into English football and English culture, and could have a joke. And boy, could we argue and joke. We were always having a mess-around, we were both so stubborn, had so many fun times winding each other up. Used to work with him in training when you're in twos.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - MAY 02: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Thiago Alcantara, Diogo Jota and James Milner of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on May 2, 2022 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Diogo Jota was 'so loved'(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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"You can't put into words. His family. As a player, as a guy, so loved. He was one of those guys who could sit with anyone and get along and have a laugh with him.
"So underrated as a player. He was my favourite player to watch as a fan watching football. He was so clever with how he'd use his body, even when he wasn't receiving the ball he'd block someone so the next guy had time on the ball. Body positions, rolls, touches, finishes. He was so clever."