Diogo Jota: Favourite memories at Liverpool as beloved Portugal star is remembered on the one-year anniversary of his death

One year on from the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, the football world took the time to remember the duo.

In the aftermath of their fatal accident, Liverpool made the decision to retire the number 20 and permanently dedicate it to Jota, while Reds fans sang their chant for the forward at the 20-minute mark of every home and away game during the 2025-26 campaign.

During World Cup 2026, the Portugal national team held up a commemorative jersey adorned with Jota's number 21 following their 2-1 win in their round of 32 clash against Croatia on July 2, the squad clearly emotional.

A memorial sculpture was also unveiled outside Anfield on the eve of the anniversary of the brothers' death, and it will stand as a place where supporters can pay their respects.

At the time, Sports Mole's Liverpool correspondents and reporters were asked to recall their favourite memories of Jota in the famous Reds shirt - here they are in full.

David Lynch - Correspondent

I didn't get to initially build up a relationship with him because he joined in COVID, and we weren't able to get particularly close to the players then. It took us a little while to see him as frequently in the mix - he's never a frequent stopper for us, to be honest! But we did always used to see him. He'd always give us a smile when coming through.

He wasn't just nice to the people who played football or were around the place, he was nice to everyone. A really good guy. He was generous with his time and you see all the stories coming out about him that really confirm that as well in terms of what he was doing with sending messages to people to help them out, stuff for the charity, how he's helping women's football as well.

That Tottenham (4-3) sticks in my memory because you can see when he celebrates the goal he's in agony with his back, and he pushed himself to get back early for that game. He still had that injury he was carrying but he wanted to get himself on the pitch because he was an absolute warrior.

He wanted to help his teammates win an important game and he did. A game that was absolutely crazy - 3-0 up, 3-3, and then somehow he comes in and wins it the final seconds. That was just typically Jota in terms of what is said about it, but also the sheer quality of the finish as well.

Barney Corkhill - Editor of Sports Mole

My personal favourite Jota moment is the winner against Tottenham, the 4-3. It was just the way that game went, and I remember thinking at the time that goal went in that there's no one else in the Liverpool squad I would rather have in that position. The composure to pick out the bottom corner even though it was on his left foot.

You would back Salah to score that, but I would have wanted Jota ahead of anyone else in that position in that moment after such a mad game. That's my personal highlight of his Liverpool moment of his Liverpool career.

It was also that Leicester game where he came off the bench and gave it to the Leicester fans after scoring the penalty. That sort of stuff just endeared him to the fans. It felt like he was frustrated by what he was seeing, and then he came on and gave a bit back.

Anthony Nolan - Reporter

As a Liverpool fan, my memories of Diogo Jota are of his humour off the pitch with the squad, as well as the number of special moments that he was a part of on it.

The game that sticks out the most in my mind is the comeback win over Leicester City on the road to lifting the League Cup in 2021-22, when Jota came off the bench at half time with the Reds 3-1 down at Anfield.

The Portuguese forward was an exceptional finisher with both feet, and he wasted no time finding the bottom-right corner with his left to make it 3-2, before Takumi Minamino levelled to take the tie to penalties.

Jota would eventually score the winning spot kick in a 5-4 shootout victory, but despite the result, supporters will always remember the game for the way that he stood up for the fans and city by celebrating the triumph in front of an away section that had been mocking poverty throughout the quarter-final.

Diogo and Andre Silva will be sorely missed by all who knew them personally, as well as those whose lives they touched without ever meeting, and my thoughts are with their families.

Lewis Nolan - Reporter

I think it’s vital to remember both Diogo and Andre as human beings before we remember them as footballers, but it’s also important to acknowledge that our connections to them were forged through their performances on the pitch. One particular performance from Diogo stands out above the rest for me, and that was his display against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2021.

Liverpool dismantled their greatest rivals 5–0, with Mohamed Salah netting a famous hat-trick that will likely haunt the Theatre of Dreams for years to come. Diogo also managed to find his way onto the scoresheet, and he played a key part in the victory.

I remember that game particularly fondly given my father had passed away a week prior, and though my family were still in mourning, the match itself was a welcome distraction. While the Reds would later go on to beat United 7-0 at Anfield, that win at Old Trafford is still one that sticks out in my mind.

> Click here to listen to Sports Mole's full tribute to Diogo Jota following his and his brother's tragic passing