Diogo Jota's wife joins Liverpool players to pay emotional tribute to tragic star

A sea of floral tributes to late Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota were visited by the star's widow on Friday. Rute Cardoso walked slowly along the mountain of flowers which have piled up outside Anfield since Jota, 28, died in a car crash in Spain together with his brother Andre Silva last week.

Meanwhile, the Liverpool team viewed tributes with head coach Arne Slot. Each squad member laid a single rose in a poignant show of remembrance.

Key stars such as Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo, as well as manager Arne Slot, laid tributes outside of Anfield where fans continue to mourn the loss of the player.

And on Friday, it was confirmed Jota's number 20 shirt will be permanently retired by the Premier League champions. The Reds will make the gesture for the first time in the club’s history as the number will now remain the Portuguese forward’s forever.

A statement from FSG CEO of Football Michael Edwards said: “As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt exactly the same way,” said Michael Edwards, FSG CEO of Football.

“It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo’s wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention.

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“I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person.

“By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal – and therefore never to be forgotten. Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore – with honour, distinction and affection – the number 20. As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20.”

Jota, 28, and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a car crash last week as the player made his way back to Merseyside for pre-season training.

The significant gesture will see the shirt number retired at all levels of the club - including the men’s senior side, women’s, U21s and academy level. Liverpool made the decision after consultation with Diogo’s wife, Rute, and family.

They believe the remarkable and touching move is the right thing to do not only for his contribution as a player but the impact he made on everyone at the club including his team-mates, staff and supporters.

Liverpool's game against Preston North End - which will be televised on ITV 1 - will take place as planned on Sunday, Liverpool announced on Friday, in what will be the first match since Jota's death.

The Reds statement said: “Ahead of the 3pm BST kick-off, there will be a rendition of LFC anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone and the home club will lay a wreath alongside the away supporters.

“A minute’s silence will be observed in Diogo and Andre’s memory and digital tributes will be displayed on the screen and across pitchside LEDs. Both sets of players will wear black armbands. Preston have also created a commemorative edition of the matchday programme that features written tributes to Diogo and Andre.”

The Liverpool star and his younger brother were driving back from Portugal, after Jota had married his teenage sweetheart just days before. The Reds forward was unable to fly after undergoing minor surgery on a lung injury.

After the tragic incident, the siblings were laid to rest in a service in Gondomar, Portugal on Saturday morning. Thousands of tributes have since been laid, both at Anfield and Molineux, the home of Wolverhampton Wanderers where he spent three years between 2017 and 2020.

Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan joined members of the club's executive team in visiting the memorial site, paying tribute to Jota, an "incredible footballer and really good person".

Speaking to LFC TV, Hogan said: "First, I would just say that obviously we’re here today – and so many people have been here before – to just offer condolences and thoughts and prayers for Diogo and for Andre, and most importantly for their family.

"It has only been a couple of days but, as we all know, it has been just absolutely devastating. We’re a club in mourning. We have all been completely shocked by the situation and, again, can only think of what this has meant to their family.

"What we see behind us and the overwhelming outpouring of support and emotion and grief and love – having a chance to walk down the row here and read the cards and read the messages, our anthem, You’ll Never Walk Alone, it does mean something.

"In this case, I think everybody just feels so passionately about making sure that we remember the two boys but also that we support their family, and we’re going to work through this together."

There have also been a number of emotional tributes from those who shared a dressing room with Jota. Andy Robertson posted on social media: "The ones I’m thinking about most right now are the family. Their loss is too much to bear. I’m so sorry that they have lost two such precious souls – Diogo and Andre.

"For the team and the Club, we’ll try to cope with this together… however long that takes. For me, I want to talk about my mate. My buddy. The bloke I loved and will miss like crazy.

"I could talk about him as a player for hours, but none of that feels like it matters right now. It’s the man. The person. He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real.

"Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun. He was the most British foreign player I’ve ever met. We used to joke he was really Irish… I’d try to claim him as Scottish, obviously. I even called him Diogo MacJota.

"We’d watch the darts together, enjoy the horse racing. Going to Cheltenham this season was a highlight - one of the best we had.

"The last time I saw him was the happiest day of his life – his wedding day. I want to remember his never-ceasing smile from that magical day. How much he was bursting with love for his wife and family.

"I can’t believe we’re saying goodbye. It’s too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better. Love you, Diogo."