Tribute to Diogo Jota: Remembering a Talented Player and Beloved Teammate

Diogo Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed the profound sense of loss felt by the club following the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident last summer at the age of 28. Slot acknowledged that the team misses Jota not only for his skills as a player but also for his spirit as an individual.

Former teammate Andy Robertson shared his emotional struggle throughout the day leading up to Scotland’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup, noting, “I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today. We spoke so much about going to the World Cup because he missed the last one with Portugal and I did with Scotland. I know he’ll be smiling over me today.”

Slot commented on Robertson’s heartfelt interview, stating, “I understand that this is a significant issue for us, which is completely normal. At this moment, I always think about how his wife and children must feel. It is undeniably much harder for them than for us. However, it is clear that we miss both the player and the person.”

Liverpool has struggled recently, losing four of their last five Premier League matches, including a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium prior to the international break. This disappointing run has left Liverpool in eighth place in the league, trailing league leaders Arsenal by eight points, as they prepare to host Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday.

In a previous encounter last season, Jota made a significant impact by scoring just 22 seconds after coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest. Slot reminisced, “As we face Nottingham Forest now, I remember that we were down 1-0, and it took him just one minute to find the equalizer. We undoubtedly miss him as a player, and it is equally clear that we miss him as a person.”