Portugal honors Diogo Jota with emotional World Cup tribute on crash anniversary

One year to the day since Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva died in a car crash in Spain, the football world marked the date with a series of coordinated gestures. Portugal's 2-1 victory over Croatia in the World Cup final 16 in Toronto on Thursday night became a stage for an emotional squad tribute, while Liverpool unveiled a permanent sculpture at Anfield and EA Sports renamed its flagship esports trophy.

A tribute in Toronto

Portugal's players carried Jota's absence into the match. After the final whistle, captain Cristiano Ronaldo led the team towards the Portuguese fans, holding a shirt bearing Jota's number 21. He would later post a squad photo on Instagram with the message: "We won for us, Diogo and Portugal!" Rúben Neves, a close friend who now wears 21 for the national team, kissed a wristband with Jota's name during the anthem. In the stands, supporters unfurled a banner with his image at the 21-minute mark. Coach Roberto Martínez described Jota as "our light" and said: "He was someone who believed, and we have a responsibility for Diogo and we are going to keep doing this."

I was amazed, because the situation of today, it means a lot to us, not only because we won the game but also the way.

Forward Gonçalo Ramos, whose goal sealed the last-16 place, said: "We talk about him every day. He gives us strength."

Liverpool's "Forever 20" memorial

Liverpool opened a memorial entitled "Forever 20" adjacent to Anfield. The sculpture, by artist Emma Rodgers, is shaped like a heart in motion (mirroring Jota's goal celebration), reveals the numbers 20 and 30 (the brothers' respective shirt numbers), and incorporates both lyrics and a games-console controller, a nod to Jota's passion for esports. The club wrote: "He will forever be our number 20, our boy from Portugal," recalling the terrace song. Jota played 182 games for Liverpool, scoring 65 goals across five seasons, winning a Premier League title, an FA Cup and two League Cups.

EA Sports trophy renamed

EA Sports announced on July 3 that its official FC Pro World Championship trophy will now be called the Diogo Jota FC Pro World Championship Trophy. In a statement posted on X, the company said: "With the blessing of the family, the trophy has been renamed in recognition of Diogo's love for 'EA Sports FC' and his passion for esports (as both a participant and founder of his own team." The first edition of the renamed trophy will be awarded this summer.

Remembrance across Portugal

Earlier on Friday, the family held a memorial mass in the Matriz Church of São Cosme, Gondomar, near Porto. The funeral home's notice invited "everyone who wishes to pay tribute to the two brothers" to the 19:30 service, a year after the tragedy that sent shockwaves through Portuguese football.