Diogo Jota obituary: boy who dreamed of the Premier League and became an Anfield giant

Just a few weeks ago, as he reflected on his footballing journey, Diogo Jota described himself as best he could. “A small guy that came from Gondomar,” he said, referring to the modest town in northern Portugal where he grew up, and “where I had this dream”.

The dream - from the day he first kicked a ball - was to play in the Premier League. To score spectacular goals in packed stadiums, to lift the biggest trophies, to be adored and idolised by fans.

Aged 28, the footballer had achieved all of that, and much more. In fact in the last few months he had experienced some of the greatest highs of his life.

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He had won the Premier League with Liverpool, coming off the bench on the final day to set up the decisive goal for Mo Salah. On the victory parade bus, he filmed streets packed with jubilant fans shouting his name on his mobile phone.

Last month he picked up more silverware, when he helped Portugal beat Spain in the Nation’s Cup final, on what, tragically, proved to be his final match.

And just two weeks ago, on June 22, he married his long-term partner and childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children. On Instagram, Rute posted photos of their wedding, writing, “My dream came true,” to which Jota replied, “I’m the lucky one."

There was much more to look forward to - a Premier League to defend, a World Cup next summer, watching his kids grow up, and undoubtedly many more dreams besides.

Tragically, that all came to an abrupt end early yesterday morning, alongside his younger brother, at the side of a Spanish highway. His new wife already a widow, their three young children without a father - and the footballing world struggling to come to terms with the senseless loss of a massive talent.

Born in Porto in 1996, Diogo Jose Teixera da Silva was the first child of factory workers Isabel and Joaquim.

His love of the game started at an early age, inspired by his father and his uncle Ricardo, both semi-professional players for local teams.
His parents struggled to pay the bills, but recognised their son’s early passion for football, scraping together the £16-a month fee for him to train at local side Gondomar SC.

But only on the condition that he got good grades at school, too, while they insisted he do other activities - just in case a professional playing career didn’t work out.

Jota remembered crying when his father would take him for swimming lessons instead of football training, such was his drive to get on the pitch.

It was as a young aspiring footballer that he decided to set himself apart from the many other Portuguese players named Silva, so asked for Diogo J to be printed on the back of his shirts.

Team mates started calling for the ball from ‘Diogo Jota’ - Jota meaning the letter J in Portuguese - and the name stuck.

But when, aged 16, his parents were still paying for him to play, he wondered if he would ever fulfil his dream. Jota recalled: “These days kids who are 14 and 15 already have professional contracts, but that wasn’t the case with me.

“I was still paying to play football when I was 16-years-old. Until then, I was just playing for fun really. I was lucky enough to have a team where we were all like a family.”

While still at school he met Rute, who had moved to Gondomar from another town and arrived, aged 15, in Jota’s class. The teenagers soon fell in love. Rute remembered: “He was both intelligent and disinterested. He managed to get good grades, but without studying much. He was one of those who’d only start revising two days before the exams.”

Jota finally got his professional break, aged 18, when he was signed to Paços de Ferreira, another local Gondomar club, scoring 14 goals in 41 matches.

His performance caught the attention of Atlético Madrid, who signed him in 2016. Girlfriend Rute, now 19, moved with him - the first time the couple started living together. Speaking at the time, she said: “As well as being his girlfriend and his best friend, I’m also his number one fan. I want to be with him.”

However, he did not play a single game and moved back to northern Portugal on loan to play for Porto, before moving on loan for a second time in 2017 to League 1 side Wolves.

But despite his disappointment at failing to impress in Madrid, in England Jota began to shine, scoring 18 goals in 46 matches for Wolves and helping the club achieve promotion to the Premier League.

His efforts earned him a permanent contract, and the chance to fulfil his childhood dream of playing in the English top flight. Once again he hit double figures for goals, helping Wolves qualify for the Europa League and earning him a £41million move to champions Liverpool in September 2020.

Reds fans were first unsure about the expensive signing, even though manager Jurgen Klopp said Jota had been on his wishlist for several years. But those doubts vanished in his very first game with a goal eight minutes into his debut against Arsenal.

He went on to become the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler to score seven times in his first 10 appearances for the club - a sensational start that featured goals in four consecutive appearances at Anfield.

He enjoyed his best goalscoring return at Liverpool with 21 goals in 55 games in 2021-22, part of an impressive overall haul of 65 in 182 appearances.

By 2022 he was already a club legend, loved for his quick feet and agility, explosive pace and uncanny ability to ghost past defenders into the box. Jamie Carragher called him Liverpool’s best finisher in the Premier League era, Anfield often echoed to the sound of the fans’ song for Jota, in which they claimed he was better than his compatriot Luis Figo.

“Exceptional player, exceptional boy… a perfect signing,” gushed Klopp, who rewarded him with a new contract until 2027.

Jota’s prowess on the field was matched by his online footballing skill, and in 2021 he achieved a world number one ranking in FIFA - making him one of, if not the only football player to compete at the top level in Europe in both the real world and virtually.

A viral moment came in November 2021 when Jota took part in a qualifying match for an international FIFA tournament, but abruptly left to make sure he wasn’t late for a real life game against Southampton.

He scored twice for Liverpool in that game, celebrating one of the goals by sitting cross-legged and pretending to hold a controller.

Jota was new boss Arne Slot’s first choice centre forward for much of the last year and, despite an injury, continued to prove his worth - his last goal for Liverpool was a spectacular winner in the Merseyside derby in front of the Kop. And at the end of the season the player’s lifelong dream of being a Premier League winner finally came true.
His last interview, to Liverpool FC’s website, was full of pride and excitement for the future.

“It’s massive. It’s something I could not even dream of when I was a kid. I wanted to play in the Premier League but I didn’t even imagine I’d win it, I just wanted to be there playing. I knew it was the best league in the world. I did it in the end. It’s a moment I will cherish forever.”

Lost senselessly and far too soon, Jota will now be immortalised in the club where his dreams came true.