Liverpool Football Club has announced plans to establish a lasting tribute in memory of former player Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, who both tragically lost their lives in a car accident earlier this month.
The Premier League champions confirmed the move on Saturday, stating that the tribute would serve as a focal point of remembrance at Anfield.
Jota, a father of three, had only recently tied the knot with his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, when the tragedy occurred. On July 3, just 11 days after their wedding, Jota and his brother were killed when their car veered off the road and caught fire in northern Spain.
In the days following the heartbreaking news, thousands of supporters left tributes outside Anfield. These included flowers, jerseys, scarves, and handwritten messages, all forming a spontaneous shrine of remembrance for the beloved player and his sibling.
Liverpool confirmed that these tributes would be preserved and repurposed as part of the upcoming memorial. “The thousands of physical tributes outside Anfield have been gradually removed over the course of the last week and carefully separated and safely stored,” the club said in a statement.
According to the club, floral arrangements left by fans will be composted and used in flower beds across all Liverpool FC facilities, ensuring that the emotional expressions of loss continue to flourish in meaningful ways. Other items will be recycled by a specialist firm and transformed into a memorial sculpture, which the club said would become a permanent installation at Anfield.
To further honour Jota’s legacy, players will wear a “Forever 20” emblem – referencing his now-retired shirt number – on their matchday shirts and stadium jackets throughout the season.
Liverpool already paid tribute to Jota and Silva during a recent friendly match held at Preston, and the club has announced that a more formal commemoration will take place before their Premier League opener against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15. The event will include a mosaic created by fans and a minute’s silence to mark the memory of the late brothers.
The club’s tribute demonstrates the deep emotional connection between Liverpool FC and its players, past and present, and reflects the broader football community’s respect for those who have left a lasting impact.
What You Should Know
Liverpool FC will immortalize the memory of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva with a permanent memorial at Anfield. Jota, who wore the number 20 shirt, died in a car crash alongside his brother just days after his wedding.
Fans’ tributes will be recycled into a commemorative sculpture, while players will honour his legacy with a “Forever 20” badge on their kits this season. The main remembrance event will occur before the club’s season opener on August 15.
