Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed in Spain when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames one year ago, in 2025
Portugal will take to the pitch aiming to honour their “extra man” Diogo Jota – on the first anniversary of his tragic death.
When Christiano Ronaldo and his teammates kick off in their World Cup game against Croatia in Toronto, the date will still be July 2 in Canada. But back home in Europe the clock will already have ticked over into July 3 – exactly a year since the Liverpool and Portugal striker lost his life in an horrific car crash.
Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva were killed in northwestern Spain when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames. The player had married his long term partner, and mother of his three children, Rute Cardaso, just 11 days earlier. Last week she posted his wedding speech to mark their one-year anniversary.
Tributes are also expected to be paid on Merseyside – with fans visiting Anfield to pay their respects. Work is underway on a permanent memorial for Jota and his brother – titled ‘Forever 20’ – outside the stadium.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez said the last 32 tie is an opportunity to honour Jota – describing him as “our light” and naming him an honorary member of his World Cup squad. After Portugal’s 0-0 draw with Colombia at the weekend, Martinez said: “I think we need to honour Diogo Jota. I think it’s a moment to cherish that everything we started in this team started with him.
“We won the Nations League with him. He’s probably the sign and the light of the biggest stimulation that we have. We want to win the World Cup for him.”
Jota scored 14 goals in 49 appearances for his country and would almost certainly have been in the squad in North America this year. Ahead of the game, midfielder Vitinha said: “So many (motivations to win the match), and there’s yet this additional factor, this special day, we have all the motivation, for our families, for Diogo Jota, for the whole country, for the whole of Portugal.”
Portugal’s players are also wearing wristbands bearing Jota’s name throughout the tournament.
Coach Martinez also said this week: “Obviously, every day is difficult. When you are training, there are always moments that Diogo Jota comes back into our memories. So I wouldn’t say that the anniversary needs to be especially difficult. I would say that it’s a little bit of a celebration.”
The brothers’ parents, Joaquim and Isabel, were at Portugal’s opening match against Congo, wiping away tears as an emotional tribute was paid to him before the match. Speaking before he signed for Spurs, Jota’s Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson spoke of the impact his death had on the squad.
He said: “We can’t hide away from it, and it is not an excuse, but what we went through in the summer, no team will ever go through; no member of staff will go through.
“I hope they never go through it because the devastation we went through, football didn’t matter. We didn’t care about football for weeks; none of us wanted to train. That was the reality.”
Jota’s widow Rute wrote to Scotland defender Robertson when the tournament started, saying: “When you step on to the pitch, Diogo will be with you in your thoughts, in your steps, in your heart. Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for taking him with you. Thank you for turning the pain of loss into strength and into something so beautiful.”
At Liverpool Jota’s No. 20 shirt has been retired and a permanent memorial to both brothers is soon to be displayed outside the stadium. Jota, who was signed from Wolves for £45million, scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club, winning the Premier League while there.
