This past weekend, the footballing world came together to pay tribute to the late Diogo Jota, as Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers met for their Premier League fixture, marking the first competitive encounter between the two clubs since the tragic passing of the Portuguese forward in July 2025. The day was steeped in emotion, with heartfelt gestures honoring a player who had left an indelible mark at both clubs, while Jota’s grieving wife, Rute Cardoso, also spoke out to thank fans for their support during an unimaginably difficult time.
Jota, a gifted striker hailing from Gondomar, Portugal, made the move from Wolves to Liverpool in the summer of 2020, quickly establishing himself as a vital presence at Anfield. Tragically, he passed away alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in a car accident while returning to England during the off-season, just north of the Portuguese border in Zamora, Spain. The loss stunned the footballing community, leaving a void not only at the clubs he represented but also in the lives of those who knew him personally.
In recognition of his achievements and legacy, Liverpool retired Jota’s No. 20 shirt, ensuring that his contribution to the club would be remembered for generations. The tributes extended beyond Liverpool, however, as Wolves honored the player who had become a talisman for the Molineux club. During the weekend fixture, Jota’s two young sons, Dinis and Duarte, served as mascots, adding a profoundly personal and emotional layer to the commemorations. The match featured carefully timed tributes: Wolves players led a heartfelt applause in the 18th minute, reflecting Jota’s time with the club, while Liverpool fans responded with applause in the 20th minute, corresponding to his iconic shirt number.
The evening before the match, Wolves players had also paid their respects outside Anfield, leaving flowers and mementos at the site to honor their former teammate. These gestures highlighted not only Jota’s impact on the pitch, where he scored 44 goals and provided 19 assists across 131 appearances for Wolves, but also the deep personal connections he forged with teammates and supporters alike. The attention to detail in these tributes reflected the enduring affection the football community continues to feel for him.
Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, who married the footballer just a couple of weeks before his untimely death, shared a moving message on social media, expressing her gratitude to both Liverpool and Wolves fans. She wrote, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the club and to all the fans for the love, respect and support shown during this incredibly difficult time. Your messages and gestures have meant more than words can express.” Her message underscored the profound comfort the family drew from the shared remembrance of her late husband.
Jota and Cardoso had been together since their youth, with a relationship spanning more than a decade. They officially married on June 22, 2025, a few weeks before his passing, having shared three children together: two sons and a daughter born in 2024. In a touching social media post marking their one-month wedding anniversary, Cardoso celebrated their love, writing: “1 month [since we said], ‘Until death do us part.’ Forever, [your] bride.”
The weekend’s tributes, filled with symbolism, applause, and personal reflection, underscored not only Jota’s extraordinary talent and career achievements but also the lasting human connections he fostered. From Molineux to Anfield, the footballing community united to honor a player whose life and legacy continue to resonate deeply, leaving fans and teammates alike with memories of a gifted forward whose influence extended far beyond the pitch.
