Liverpool Football Club has confirmed it will retire the iconic number 20 shirt worn by Diogo Jota, following the tragic death of the Portuguese forward and his brother, Andre Silva, in a fatal car crash earlier this month.
“After consultation with his wife, Rute, and family, the club can announce the squad number will be retired in honour and memory of Diogo across all levels, including LFC Women and Academy,” the club said in a statement released on Friday.
In an emotional reflection on the gesture, Liverpool’s chief executive Michael Edwards remarked, “I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person.”
Liverpool will play their first match since the devastating incident this Sunday in a pre-season fixture against English Championship side Preston. Ahead of the 1400 GMT kickoff, fans will join in a poignant tribute that includes a live rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the club’s anthem. A wreath will be laid by Preston in front of Liverpool’s travelling supporters, followed by a minute’s silence, digital tributes across the stadium, and both teams wearing black armbands.
Jota, a father of three, had just married his longtime partner Rute Cardoso 11 days before the crash that claimed his life. He and his brother were travelling in a Lamborghini in northern Spain when the vehicle veered off the road and caught fire.
Last Saturday, Liverpool manager Arne Slot and several first-team players, including club captain Virgil van Dijk, paid their final respects at Jota’s funeral – a somber moment that underscored the profound loss felt across the football world.
