Roberto Martinez confirms Portugal's EMOTIONAL Diogo Jota tribute

Liverpool Football Club suffered an unimaginable loss on July 3. Diogo Jota - alongside brother Andre Silva - was tragically killed in a car accident in Spain.

It plunged the club into mourning with an announcement eventually coming that Jota’s No20 shirt would be retired. Having helped the Reds win title No20 - and signing in 2020 - Jota’s place is forever etched into Anfield history.

READ MORE: Salah's Jota tribute

Diogo should have been enjoying the summer of his life. He’d become a Premier League champion for the first time and married childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso.

READ MORE: Thank you, Diogo Jota

But his life was heartbreakingly cut short - leaving family, friends, teammates and the public at large united in grief.

Martinez announces first squad without Jota

Jota this summer also won the UEFA Nations League with his national team Portugal.

And this week head coach Roberto Martinez announced his first squad since the devastating loss of Diogo Jota. The Nations League champions will play Armenia and Hungary in their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualification matches.

“I think Diogo embodies unity, motivation, responsibility, because he wanted to win the World Cup.

“So here we are to fight and make that happen, to achieve the dream,” he said.

Diogo Jota's No21 shirt passes to Ruben Neves

Martinez also revealed that Portugal had their own tribute planned for Jota’s squad number.

“I am also pleased to announce that Diogo Jota’s No21 shirt will be passed on to Ruben Neves. Ensuring that it remains on the pitch with us all.

“It was not a decision made by the coach or by the Portuguese Football Federation. It was the decision of Diogo Jota’s family.”

Ruben Neves a fitting recipient

Neves has been a constant source of support for Jota’s widow and the rest of his family since the forward’s death.

The 28-year-old flew back from the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States to be a pallbearer at Diogo and Andre’s funeral and has been seen by Rute Cardoso’s side at commemorative events too.

The two footballers were best friends - establishing themselves alongside one another for Portugal’s under-21s, Porto, Wolves and the senior national team.

If there is one player in the Portugal lineup that should honour Diogo by using his shirt number then it’s Ruben Neves.

23 players plus one says Martinez

"We know what Diogo represented for each one of us, the impact he had on our lives,” Martinez said.

“We want to honour his memory every day. He will be with us and he will give us extra strength to achieve our targets.

“Diogo Jota’s example is a light for us. We will carry his spirit in our hearts. We will win for Diogo, for his brother, André, and as always for all the Portuguese people.

“In this squad announcement on the road to World Cup 2026 the number of players is 23 plus one - Diogo Jota.”

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