Liverpool Football Club has announced the retirement of the number 20 jersey in honor of Diogo Jota, a move that marks the first time in the club's 133-year history that a player's number has been retired. The decision comes after the tragic passing of Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, in a car crash in Spain on July 3rd. The number 20 will be retired across all levels of the club, including the men's first team, women's team, and all academy sides.
The club's decision was made after consulting with Jota's wife, Rute, and other members of his family. A statement from Liverpool FC emphasized that the move recognizes Jota's "immeasurable contribution" to the Reds' on-pitch success over the last five years. The statement also acknowledged the "profound personal impact he had on his teammates, colleagues, and supporters and the everlasting connections he built with them".
Michael Edwards, CEO of Football at Fenway Sports Group, noted the deep sentiment shared by the club and its supporters. "As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt exactly the same way," Edwards said. He added, "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". Edwards believes this is a "unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person".
Jota, who was 28 years old, joined Liverpool in 2020 and made 182 appearances for the club, scoring 65 goals. He quickly became a fan favorite, known for his versatility, clinical finishing, and relentless work rate. During his time with Liverpool, Jota helped the team win the Premier League title in 2025, the FA Cup, and the English League Cup in 2022. He also appeared in the 2022 Champions League final.
Liverpool has announced plans to pay tribute to Jota and his brother during their pre-season friendly against Preston. The tribute will include a rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" before kickoff, and Preston will lay a wreath alongside the away supporters. A minute's silence will be observed, with digital tributes displayed on the stadium's big screen and on pitch-side LED boards, and players from both teams will wear black armbands. The pre-match program will also feature written tributes to Jota and Silva.
Jota's impact extended beyond the pitch. He was known for his passion for gaming and was even ranked number one in the world on the FIFA 21 Champions Leaderboard in February 2021. He also won a Premier League invitational FIFA tournament during the COVID-19 lockdown, beating his future Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold in the final. Jota also had his own eSports team, Luna Galaxy.
The retirement of Jota's number 20 jersey is a testament to his significant contributions to Liverpool Football Club and the lasting impression he made on everyone associated with the club. As Edwards stated, "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".
