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Diogo Jota – Liverpool’s Relentless Finisher Remembered

Diogo Jota was never loud, but he never needed to be. His boots did the talking, especially when it mattered most. The Portuguese forward, who tragically died in a road traffic accident aged just 28, leaves behind a legacy at Liverpool built on clinical moments, tireless graft and the uncanny knack of showing up exactly when his team needed him. The club have put out a heartfelt tribute for the beloved number 20.

Jota’s journey to Anfield began in his native Portugal, making waves at Paços de Ferreira before a move to Atletico Madrid in 2016. Though he never kicked a ball in anger for the Spanish giants, his loan spells at FC Porto and then Wolves showed what was brewing – a smart, slippery forward who saw space before anyone else did.

At Wolves, he hit 17 goals in their 2017-18 promotion season, then helped them consolidate in the Premier League and reach the Europa League quarter-finals. When Liverpool came calling in 2020, he didn’t blink. Neither did the fans, once they saw what he could do.

Instant Impact at Liverpool

Breaking into a forward line featuring Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah might’ve seemed impossible, but Jota made it look inevitable. Within 21 appearances, he was already in double figures, including a devastating hat-trick away at Atalanta in the Champions League.

Injuries tried to halt his rhythm, but each time, he came back firing. His contribution in the 2021-22 campaign – 21 goals across all competitions – helped Liverpool collect both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, pushing them to the brink of an historic quadruple.

‘The slotter’ played his part in iconic moments. A last-eight FA Cup winner at Forest, a semi-final brace at Arsenal, a late Leicester quarter-final intervention. And then there was that unforgettable 94th-minute winner against Spurs at Anfield – a poacher’s finish, a poise under pressure that defined him.

Legacy of a Champion

Under both Jürgen Klopp and Arne Slot, Jota was a trusted figure. Injuries restricted his consistency but never his influence. He became a Premier League champion in Slot’s debut season, scoring vital goals along the way, none more emotional than his final strike – a trademark finish in front of the Kop to win the Merseyside derby in April 2025.

“To arrive at this particular season with the title that I’ve been chasing for a lot of years and in the best league in the world – for me where I dreamed to play as a kid – it’s a moment I will cherish forever,” he said.
“It is a remarkable achievement for a small guy that came from Gondomar, where I had this dream. To arrive at this moment was outstanding.”

Photo: IMAGO

In all, he scored 150 goals in his career, 14 of them for Portugal, where he earned 49 caps. He was crowned a UEFA Nations League winner just last month, shortly before marrying his wife Rute, mother to their three children, on June 22.

Immortal in Red

He wore the No.20 shirt, but his value was never a number. Diogo Jota gave Liverpool moments to live by. He gave Portugal pride. And he gave football a reminder that brilliance can come in quiet forms, often flashing brightest in the final seconds.

“His name is Diogo,” rang the chorus from the Kop. And yes, we’ll never forget it.

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