In the chill of a late December afternoon at Anfield, as the floodlights cut through the winter gloom, a poignant gesture will unfold on the hallowed turf this Saturday. Dinis and Duarte, the young sons of the late Diogo Jota, will walk onto the pitch as mascots, holding the hands of players from Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers, the two clubs their father so profoundly impacted.
This simple, powerful act precedes the first meeting between the sides since Jota, the Portuguese forward, was tragically killed in a car crash in Spain alongside his younger brother, André Silva, in early July. In a year of unimaginable loss for the Jota family, the invitation from Liverpool represents more than ceremonial hospitality; it is an embrace, a promise of an enduring home, and a public affirmation that their father’s legacy is woven permanently into the fabric of the game.
The occasion transcends the typical pomp of a Premier League matchday, where children usually experience the thrill of meeting their heroes. For Dinis and Duarte, and their younger sister Mafalda, this is a return to a community that has steadfastly held them in its collective heart.
The family, including Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso, attended emotional tributes at both Anfield and Molineux during the season’s opening fixtures in August. At Liverpool’s first home game, mosaics spelling ‘DJ 20’ and ‘AS 30’, the shirt numbers of Diogo and his brother, filled the stands during a minute’s silence, while a banner on the Kop declared directly to the family: “Rute, Dinis, Duarte, Mafalda — Anfield will always be your home”.
This Saturday’s gesture, offering the boys a place alongside the mascots, reaffirms that solemn vow in a deeply personal manner.
For both clubs, the fixture is laden with a shared grief that momentarily blurs sporting rivalries. On Friday evening, in a moving display of respect, Wolves head coach Rob Edwards, interim executive chairman Nathan Shi, and players including goalkeeper José Sa visited Anfield to place flowers among the tributes that have accumulated outside the stadium.
The clubs are united in their mourning for a player who was instrumental in their recent histories. Jota joined Wolves on loan in 2017, becoming a pivotal figure in their promotion to the Premier League and subsequent establishment in the top flight, scoring 44 goals in 131 appearances.
His move to Liverpool in 2020 saw him elevate his game further, contributing 65 goals in 182 games and playing a key role in securing the FA Cup, two EFL Cups, and, poignantly, the Premier League title in the 2024-25 season.
The profound sense of loss permeates the thoughts of those who knew him professionally. In his programme notes for the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot reflected on the emotional tumult of the past year. “Reflecting on everything that has happened over the last 12 months ignites a rollercoaster of emotions,” Slot wrote. “Doing so leads me to think especially of the family of Diogo Jota on what will be their first Christmas without him. It is not my place to tell them where they should look for comfort—if that is even possible—but I can only hope that the feeling of love and affection that Diogo still generates brings them some solace”.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk also shared his heartache, penning that the team is “still coming to terms with” the loss, which followed the incredible high of their title triumph.
Beyond the statuesque tributes, Liverpool retired his number 20 shirt and plans a permanent memorial sculpture, while Wolves inducted him into their Hall of Fame, Jota’s most enduring legacy is his devotion as a father. In a conversation last season, he spoke candidly about the challenge and joy of balancing elite sport with family life. “When I go home I still have a family, I have two kids, three almost, and the dogs and the stress doesn’t stop,” he explained. “You want to be the best father you can be, try to lead by example… I had this the day after the game, I wanted to get a bit of rest, [my son] wanted to play some football—and you need to be on it”.
The tradition of player escorts, or mascots, began in Brazil in the 1970s and has evolved to symbolize innocence, dreams, and a connection between players and the next generation of fans. It is a tradition that some clubs have controversially commercialized, with packages costing hundreds or even thousands of pounds. In this context, Liverpool’s invitation to the Jota family carries a different weight.
Clubs like Liverpool are among those that do not charge for the mascot experience, and this particular invitation is born not of commerce but of collective memory, respect, and an unbreakable bond. It is a gesture that cuts through the modern game’s commercial noise, touching on the pure, emotional core of what football communities can represent.