Liverpool Football Club has announced that the number 20 shirt, worn by their beloved forward Diogo Jota, will be immortalized in honor of the Portuguese star following his tragic passing on July 3, 2025. The decision, a rare and poignant gesture from a club that has never retired a shirt number in its 133-year history, reflects the profound impact Jota had on the team and its global fanbase during his five-year tenure at Anfield.
Jota, aged 28, and his brother André Silva, 26, tragically lost their lives in a car accident in Zamora, Spain, when their Lamborghini suffered a tire blowout during an overtaking maneuver, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and catch fire. The accident, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, came just weeks after Jota’s wedding to his partner Rute Cardoso and shortly after he helped Portugal secure the UEFA Nations League title. The football world has been left reeling, with tributes pouring in from clubs, players, and fans across the globe.
In an emotional statement released on their official website, Liverpool FC expressed their devastation, describing Jota as a player whose contributions were integral to their 2024-25 Premier League triumph—the club’s 20th league title. “The number 20 will be rightly immortalized for his contributions as part of Liverpool’s 2024-25 title-winners,” the statement read, highlighting Jota’s iconic “shimmy and strike” goal in front of the Kop during April’s Merseyside derby, a moment that sealed victory and became his poignant final goal for the club. While the club has not explicitly confirmed the permanent retirement of the number 20, sources indicate it is unlikely to be assigned to another player for the foreseeable future, ensuring Jota’s legacy remains etched in Anfield’s history.
Since joining Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 for £45 million, Jota made 182 appearances, scoring 65 goals and providing 22 assists. His relentless work rate, clinical finishing, and versatility as a forward—often deployed on the left wing or as a false nine—earned him a special place in the hearts of supporters. Fans immortalized him with a chant to the tune of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Bad Moon Rising: “He’s a lad from Portugal; better than Figo, don’t you know; Oh, his name is Diogo.” This song, bellowed from the Kop, became a testament to his status as a fan favorite.
The decision to immortalize the number 20 was met with overwhelming support from Liverpool’s fanbase, many of whom had already gathered outside Anfield to lay flowers, scarves, and shirts in tribute. Social media posts echoed the sentiment, with one supporter writing, “He came in 2020, helped win us number 20, and wore the number 20. Forever our number 20.” Another fan, reflecting the broader football community’s grief, added, “Even as a Manchester City fan, I request Liverpool retire the #20 shirt in honor of Diogo Jota.” The club’s gesture has been praised as a fitting tribute, with former manager Jürgen Klopp describing Jota as a “multifaceted persona” whose warmth and community work, particularly in supporting women’s and girls’ sports initiatives, left a lasting impact beyond the pitch.
Liverpool’s current manager, Arne Slot, issued a heartfelt statement, saying, “Diogo was the essence of what a Liverpool player should be. We will celebrate his goals and sing his song when the time is right, but for now, we mourn a unique human being.” The club has requested privacy for Jota’s family, including his wife Rute Cardoso and their three children, as well as for André Silva’s loved ones, teammates, and staff during this period of grief.
Tributes have extended beyond Liverpool, with UEFA announcing a moment of silence at all Women’s EURO 2025 matches and condolences from rival clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City, and Jota’s former teams, including Atlético Madrid, FC Porto, and Wolves. The Portuguese Football Federation also pledged to honor Jota’s legacy, with president Fernando Gomes stating, “Diogo and André’s loss is irreparable for Portuguese football.”