'Retire his number': Fans call for Diogo Jota tribute

Liverpool are mourning the loss of Diogo Jota - their Premier League title-winning forward who died at the age of 28.

Portugal international Jota and his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva lost their lives in a traffic accident in the Spanish region of Zamora.

The tragedy occurred during the early hours of Thursday July 3 with the news being confirmed later that morning.

Fans around the world have been left shocked and saddened by the passing of Jota - who also won the FA Cup and EFL Cup in Liverpool red.

He joined the club from Wolves for an initial £41m back in 2020 - making an electrifying start to his Anfield career. In April this year he scored his final goal - a winner in the Merseyside derby.

That strike went a long way towards ensuring the Reds won their 20th top-flight title. Back on May 29, Jota tweeted an image of himself holding the Premier League trophy captioned “No. 20 Meant to be. YNWA.”

Given that Jota played in the No20 shirt - and joined in 2020 - there have been widespread calls for the club to retire the number. Fans are now taking to social media stating that would be a fitting tribute to the Portugal international.

“We won our 20th Premier League title while he wore the number 20 on his back,” one wrote. “Retire the shirt number forever.”

“Absolutely incomprehensiblly devastating for his family,” wrote another.

“It can all just be over in seconds, it’s so easy to forget that. He was a footballer to us but a husband, son, brother and father first. Retire his number. Sing his song at every game. Forever our number 20. Christ.”

“Joined in 2020,” said another supporter. “Wore the number 20 Won us number 20 Retire the number 20 RIP”

Diogo is survived by his wife Rute Cardoso - who he married only a few days before his passing - as well as their three children.

RIP Diogo Jota, you will never be forgotten.