Liverpool are to retire Diogo Jota’s number 20 shirt in honour of the Portugal forward who was killed with his brother Andre Silva in a car crash this month.
“After consultation with his wife, Rute, and family, the club can announce the squad number will be retired in honour and memory of Diogo across all levels, including LFC Women and Academy,” the club announced on Friday.
“I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual,” the club’s chief executive Michael Edwards noted.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 05: Players, fans and match officials pause for a moments silence in memory of former football player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who passed away on the 3rd of July 2025 prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-final match between Real Madrid CF and Borussia Dortmund at MetLife Stadium on July 05, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by AL BELLO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 05: Fans observe a moment of silence in tribute to football players Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, after they passed away on the 3rd of July 2025 prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-final match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern München at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 05, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Alex Grimm/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by ALEX GRIMM / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Liverpool return to action for the first time since the July 3 tragedy at English Championship side Preston in a pre-season friendly on Sunday.
A rendition of Liverpool’s anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” will be played prior to the 1400 GMT kick-off and Preston will lay a wreath in front of the away supporters.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 04: Pedro Neto #7 of Chelsea FC holds a jersey with the names Diogo and André to observe a moment of silence in tribute to late football players Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, after they passed away on the 3rd of July 2025 prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter final match between SE Palmeiras and Chelsea FC at Lincoln Financial Field on July 04, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dan Mullan/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Dan Mullan / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)ORLANDO, FLORIDA – JULY 04: Sergej Milinkovic-Savic #22, Ruben Neves #8 and Kalidou Koulibaly #3 of Al Hilal react during a moments silence in memory of former football player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who passed away on the 3rd of July 2025 prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter final match between Fluminense FC and Al Hilal at Camping World Stadium on July 04, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Megan Briggs / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JULY 05: Players of Paris Saint-Germain line up to observe a moment of silence in tribute to football players Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, after they passed away on the 3rd of July 2025 prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-final match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern München at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 05, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Kevin C. Cox / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Father of three Jota, who married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days before the accident, died alongside his brother after a Lamborghini they were travelling in came off the road and burst into flames in northern Spain.
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