Liverpool supporters person called for the nine to discontinue the No. 20 garment successful grant of the precocious Diogo Jota.
The shot assemblage is successful mourning pursuing the tragic passing of the Reds and Portugal forward, aged 28, and his member Andre Silva, who were some killed successful a car mishap successful Spain aboriginal connected Thursday. Andre was besides a nonrecreational shot player.
Spanish officials reported that the brothers were recovered deceased aft their vehicle veered disconnected a roadworthy adjacent the metropolis of Zamora. Authorities fishy a tyre blowout caused the crash. Liverpool expressed its devastation astatine the news, describing it arsenic an "unimaginable loss."
The Portuguese Football Federation stated: "Their deaths correspond irreparable losses for Portuguese football."
Jota netted six goals successful 26 appearances arsenic Liverpool clinched the 2024-25 Premier League title. This marked the Reds' 20th English top-flight rubric triumph, with Jota fittingly donning the No. 20 shirt.
In effect to the heartbreaking news, respective Liverpool fans person taken to societal media to implore the nine to discontinue the No. 20 garment arsenic a tribute, a determination the nine has ne'er made before. One instrumentality commented: "Diogo Jota won Liverpool's 20th title, portion wearing #20. Retire the number."
Another protagonist remarked: "Football is the astir unimportant happening close now, but I anticipation Liverpool discontinue fig 20. It would consciousness incorrect for astir supporters seeing anyone other deterioration it aft the tragic nonaccomplishment of Diogo Jota - but chiefly arsenic a motion of respect and gratitude for everything helium did and who helium was."
One protagonist expressed: "The lone comfortableness I tin deliberation of is Diogo Jota had astir apt the champion period oregon truthful of his beingness winning the Premier League with Liverpool, Nations League with Portugal and had a fantastic wedding with his woman and kids earlier helium tragically passed away. Will ever beryllium a fable and our lad from Portugal. @LFC request to discontinue the No. 20 garment though successful his honor."
Another instrumentality echoed this sentiment, stating: "Would emotion for the nine to discontinue the fig 20 jersey successful respect to Diogo Jota."
A 5th instrumentality shared: "This is heartbreaking, a subordinate who I deliberation a batch of america took for granted astatine points owed to injuries but is idiosyncratic who gave america immoderate unbelievable moments! Number 20 should beryllium retired, RIP Diogo and Andre."
Following the confirmation of Jota's passing, Liverpool released the pursuing statement: "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. The nine person been informed that the 28-year-old has passed distant pursuing a roadworthy postulation mishap successful Spain on with his brother, Andre.
"Liverpool FC volition beryllium making nary further remark astatine this clip and petition the privateness of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, team-mates and nine unit is respected arsenic they effort to travel to presumption with an unimaginable loss. We volition proceed to supply them with our afloat support."
The Portuguese nationalist squad paid tribute to Diogo Jota with a heartfelt statement, saying: "Diogo Jota was not lone a fantastic subordinate with astir 50 caps for the nationalist team, but besides an bonzer idiosyncratic who was respected by each his teammates and opponents. He had a contagious joyousness and was a notation constituent successful his ain community."
Jota's beingness disconnected the transportation was marked by idiosyncratic joyousness arsenic well, having joined his semipermanent partner, Rute Cardoso, successful Portugal connected June 22, conscionable 11 days earlier the tragic mishap that took his life. The mates were arrogant parents to 3 children.