Preston, UK – July 13, 2025 — Liverpool Football Club paid a powerful and emotional tribute to late forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva during their first pre-season match against Preston North End, following the siblings’ tragic death in a car crash in Spain on July 3. Jota, 27, and Silva, also a professional footballer, died when their Lamborghini suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle in Zamora, Spain. They were reportedly en route to the port of Santander, from where Jota was to return to Liverpool for pre-season training. Prior to kick-off at Deepdale Stadium, fans and players observed an impeccably silent tribute, preceded by heartfelt renditions of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and Liverpool’s iconic anthem, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” During the tribute, a visibly moved Preston captain Ben Whiteman placed a wreath in front of the travelling Liverpool supporters, who had adorned the away end with flags, scarves, and banners honouring Jota’s memory. As the match reached the 20th minute—Jota’s shirt number—the crowd broke into a unified and emotional chant of his name and song, filling the stadium with remembrance. Despite the heavy mood, Liverpool secured a 3–1 win. Conor Bradley, who opened the scoring, looked to the sky in a quiet personal tribute. Darwin Núñez, who netted the second goal, celebrated with two of Jota’s signature gestures, while Cody Gakpo, after scoring the third, held up his fingers to form the number “20” in honour of his fallen teammate. The matchday programme featured a black-and-white image of Jota holding the Premier League trophy, alongside written tributes celebrating his life and footballing legacy. In a symbolic gesture, Liverpool announced the retirement of Jota’s No. 20 shirt across all levels of the club at 20:20 BST on Friday, ensuring his legacy endures within the team. Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, speaking in his first interview since the tragedy, said the team had been allowed to mourn in their own way. “If we want to laugh, we laugh; if we want to cry, we’re going to cry,” Slot told LFC TV.“We will always carry him with us—in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go.” Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and quickly became a fan favourite. He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances, contributing significantly to the club’s 2022 FA Cup and League Cup victories, and playing a key role in the 2023/24 Premier League title win. Internationally, he earned 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 goals, with his final appearance coming in Portugal’s UEFA Nations League victory over Spain on June 8, 2025. Both Jota and Silva are being mourned across the football world, as tributes continue to pour in from fans, clubs, and fellow player
Emotional Tributes Paid to Diogo Jota and Brother at Liverpool’s First Match Since Tragic Death
