Remembering Diogo Jota and Andre Silva

Diogo Jota and Andre Silva: On July 3, 2025, the football world was struck by tragedy when Liverpool forward Diogo Jota (28) and his brother André Silva (26) died in a car accident in Portugal. Jota, a key player for Liverpool since 2020, left behind his wife and three children, while Silva, who last played for Penafiel, leaves behind his wife. Jota’s death came just 11 days after his wedding, adding a cruel weight to the loss.

It sent shockwaves across the world of football; such a high-profile player in his prime — it was unthinkable. I have been a Liverpool fan since 2016 and seeing Diogo join them in 2020 got me excited because he was a top player with so much to give to the team. I and all the Liverpool fans got to witness five amazing years of Diogo Jota at the club, filled with late goals, important moments, and rescuing the team from danger. He showed up for us in countless important moments, so much so that there was a saying during his years at the club, “Just bring Jota on,” which meant no matter how difficult it would be for Liverpool to score a goal, the fans would say, “Just bring on Jota as a substitute,” knowing he would find some way or some angle to score a goal and give his team the win. The Liverpool fans also had a song for him

‘Oh, he wears the number 20. He will take us to victory, and when he’s running down the left wing, he’ll cut inside and score for LFC. He’s a lad from Portugal, Better than Figo don’t you know. oh, his name is Diogo!’ 

He was such a beloved player. Knowing he and his brother are gone just like that, the feeling is unexplainable. I cannot begin to fathom what their wives and loved ones are feeling. The parents of Diogo and André lost both their sons; it’s indescribable. 

The feeling of grief cannot be summarised with a few words. It is both painful and beautiful: the love you have coupled with loss, the happiness of the memories you made with the sadness of not making more, an ever-expanding feeling. Andrew Garfield spoke about his grief after the death of his mother in 2019: “This is all the unexpressed love, the grief that will remain with us until we pass because we never get enough time with each other, no matter if someone lives until 15, 60, or 99. So I hope this grief stays with me because it’s all the unexpressed love that I didn’t get to tell her.” No one can sum it up perfectly, but this is as close as one can get. It will always be too soon, or not enough time spent. It is better to love and love like you have never loved before rather than feel you didn’t love enough. 

Another quote I think of is in a Marvel series, Wandavision. The character named Vision said, “What is grief, if not love persevering?” Yes, grief is painful, and it is sad, but it is also a reminder of the love you had, the experiences you shared, the times you felt at peace in their company, and the happiness they gave you. Your mind tells you that they’re gone but it is your heart that tells you they are still here, in the way that you walk, or the specific pizza order you always get, the way you think of them every time it rains, the songs you listen to, the prayers you pray, the poems you write — I can go on and on. The habits and mannerisms you pick up when they are still here are just another way they can live on within you long after they’ve gone. 

I go back to Diogo and André. Diogo gave me so many happy memories as a Liverpool fan; I will forever be grateful. Only a couple of months before his and Andre’s passing, Diogo won Liverpool their 20th league title, won the Nations League with his country, and got married all within a short span of time; he went out on a high. Diogo joined Liverpool in 2020, wore the #20 shirt, and won the club its 20th league title, making him forever our #20. “Oh, his name is Diogo!”

Rest in peace, Diogo Jota and André Silva!