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Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Diogo Jota was a genuine, down-to-earth gentleman enjoying the best weeks of his life, Liverpool fans must make sure his legacy is always remembered, writes LEWIS STEELE
The final time I had the pleasure of dealing with Diogo Jota was in the bowels of Munich's Allianz Arena a few weeks ago for the Nations League finals, which Portugal won. He was walking with his nation's greatest son Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva and was asked for an interview by a couple of us reporters. He stretched out his palms and gave a look to say: 'Why would you want to speak to me?' That was Diogo Jota. Another scene was just under a year ago in America. I sat down with the forward for an interview about how he was inspired by a trip to the famous Rocky Steps in Philadelphia and how he was hoping to make the upcoming season his year. As I left the beautifully air-conditioned room in the Four Seasons hotel the Reds were staying at, the main thought was that, save for the tracksuit and fresh smell all footballers have, there were few indications this was a top-level sportsman sitting across the table. That was Diogo Jota. A genuine, down-to-earth chap, a gentleman. No ego, no thinking he was God's gift, no indication he was irked by spending his time doing yet another media duty on a jam-packed tour of the United States. Inside, of course, he may have been itching to get back to his PlayStation or to FaceTime his fiance – now wife – and kids. He wasn't one to go out partying, more a family man who loved relaxing with those close to him and playing FIFA online with his mates. When a former Wolves staff member was being interviewed for a role in Liverpool's media team late last year, Jota – who made his name at the Midlands club – made a point of vouching for his old colleague with a glowing reference that helped him get the job. A year earlier, when team-mate Luis Diaz was going through a horrendous ordeal off the pitch – his father, Luis Manuel, was kidnapped in their hometown of Barrancas, Colombia – it was Jota's idea to hold up a 'Diaz 7' jersey when Liverpool went 1-0 up. That was Diogo Jota. Thoughtful, kind, a team player. Everyone in the dressing room loved him, used to banter him for never knowing the songs put on the playlist by DJ Virgil van Dijk or Andy Robertson. He had an infectious smile that lit up a room. When one young fan was struggling in 2021, Jota opted to record a video of himself sending his best wishes and advice to help the kid. It was his own decision to send the clip. Just a minute out of Jota's busy schedule helped to make the day of one kid. He was a believer in equal rights for sports stars and made a point of showing up to events about women's football and getting girls into the game. 4 years ago when my lad was at his lowest, Diogo took the time to record this for him and it helped more than he will ever know. It was a small task, but it meant to so much and I would have loved to have thanked for him personally for it. Thank you Diogo ❤️ — Ste Davies (@StevenD1977) July 3, 2025 Jota had the life goal of being a professional footballer and achieved and surpassed his dreams, enjoying success with Liverpool and at international level with Portugal He was the most clinical forward at Liverpool and his final goal, a thunderous strike in the Merseyside Derby, was a typical Jota finish Jota was a hard-working trainer who always gave 100 per cent for Liverpool and Wolves On International Women's Day last year he spoke passionately about the women who raised him and spoke of how he wanted his daughter to take inspiration from the likes of tennis legend Serena Williams. On a personal level, I resonated with Jota whenever we spoke because he was just a few weeks older than me. Like me and millions of other boys and girls around the world, he had a life goal to be a footballer. He achieved and surpassed all of his dreams. It is easy in moments like this to say that the sporting side does not matter but the fact he was a footballer, living out the dreams of so many, is why there is grief spread across the planet today for a man that 99 per cent of mourners did not know personally. He was a supremely gifted footballer and would have scored more than the 147 goals for club and country if not for a number of injuries. He was the most clinical forward at Liverpool and his final goal, a thunderous strike in the Merseyside Derby, was a typical Jota finish. Fox in the box. Jota was a hard-working trainer who always gave 100 per cent but football was just the day job for him given his love for gaming. He would often play against fans on FIFA and took Telford United to the Premier League in one of his Football Manager careers. This hobby became a side-hustle when he launched his own eSports business where gamers would play video games professionally for his Luna Galaxy empire named after one of his dogs Luna. In the latest accounts, they had won more than £400,000 in prize money and in 2021, he was the world No 1 FIFA player. Before Thursday, he had enjoyed the happiest six weeks of his life. He won the Premier League and said at the time: 'To arrive at this particular season with the title that I've been chasing for a lot of years and in the best league in the world – for me where I dreamed to play as a kid – it's a moment I will cherish forever. Jota had danced with Portugal team-mates and fans after their Nations League triumph in June Liverpool fans must make sure his memory is never erased and legacy always remembered 'It is a remarkable achievement for a small guy that came from Gondomar, where I had this dream. To arrive at this moment was outstanding.' Then he won the Nations League with Portugal and danced with their fans in Munich. And then in his down-time after a long season, he married his childhood sweetheart Rute alongside his three young children just 11 days ago. His final post online was about that day, with the words: 'Yes, for ever'.
The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ex-UFC star Molly McCann announces surprise switch to boxing after emotional retirement from MMA
Former UFC star Molly McCann has made the surprise switch to boxing and is already eyeing world title success after signing with Eddie Hearn 's Matchroom Boxing. Liverpudlian McCann bid an emotional farewell from MMA when she hung up the gloves at UFC London in March, announcing her retirement after suffering a first-round defeat to Alexia Thainara. 'Meatball' Molly left the cage with a 14-8 record having blazed the trail for British women in the sport. She was the first female fighter from the UK to compete in the UFC all the way back in 2013, and went on to earn three performance of the night bonuses during her career, the most in the promotion's flyweight history. She now makes the leap to the squared circle in a move that she says was 'always the dream', and is making sure not to limit her ambitions from the outset. McCann said: "I boxed before. My weight didn't get added to the Olympics so the only other option was MMA. MMA has given me a phenomenal life, one that boxing could never give me. "I can't wait to fight and show everyone the pedigree of boxing I've got. People probably think I am going to run in and try and take chins off. Which is correct, but in an educated manner. "The ultimate goal is to be world champion and not for some phoney promotion. I've got to earn my stripes like everyone else. (I want) a world title within eight fights." McCann is one of the UK's most high-profile fighters, becoming engrained in the combat culture through her ever-entertaining friendship with fellow Liverpool-bred UFC star Paddy Pimblett. She joins up with Matchroom promoter Hearn, who echoes McCann's self-belief to go right to the very top. "What's important to know, she really is a boxer first,' Hearn added. 'You see a lot of fighters try switch from UFC to boxing because they've already built their brand but they're not actually elite at the discipline. "It used to be a lot easier to win a world title in women's boxing, now it's a lot harder. We're talking about Molly starting around the bantamweight level, there's some really good fighters there. "She's not a novice, because she has amateur pedigree. The most important thing is to stay active.' McCann nor Matchroom are yet to confirm when or who she will be fighting in her first professional boxing bout.
The Guardian
16 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Diogo Jota: the sense of loss goes far and wide
Liverpool's Diogo Jota has died in a car accident in Spain. It is devastating news and still hard to get our head around. Jota was 28, a father of three young children and married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso less than two weeks ago. His younger brother André Silva, a footballer for Penafiel, also died in the crash. It is an unimaginable loss for their friends and family to process and we hope they get all the support and love they need. At Anfield, where Jota was adored by Liverpool fans for his goalscoring instinct, pace and combative dribbling style, the club flag is at half-mast and scarves, shirts and other tributes bearing the forward's name are still being left. Supporters spoke of their love for an 'adopted scouser' whose chant is among the most popular on the Kop. He was last seen at Anfield holding the Premier League trophy aloft as his name echoed around the ground – 'oh his name is Diogo'. Many of those fans, including the writer of this email, and people in the wider football community did not know Jota, but his actions on the pitch made them feel something. Footballers provoke emotion and talented and committed ones, such as Jota, do it often enough to form a connection. So the sense of loss goes far and wide. This has been evident in the range of tributes for Jota and his brother from Liverpool teammates, his former clubs, his Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, rival Premier League sides, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and Portugal's prime minister Luís Montenegro, who said Jota 'was an athlete who greatly honoured Portugal's name'. The Portuguese FA president Pedro Proença spoke of Jota's warm personality, something that seemed evident in post-match interviews when the forward would often be smiling broadly and looking delighted to be living out his dream: 'Much more than a fantastic player, who played almost 50 matches for the national A team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.' Jürgen Klopp said he was 'heartbroken' to lose 'a great friend … we will miss you so much!' Jota's career has been a decorated one. He won the Championship, the Premier League, the FA Cup and League Cup as well as playing in a Champions League final with Liverpool. And in his last match, for Portugal against Spain, he won the Nations League for a second time. But at only 28 he was at the peak of his powers and had much more to give. It is unendingly sad. His 65 goals in 182 Liverpool appearances seem remarkable considering he was unfortunate with injury layoffs. Fans were desperate to see more of him – as the song goes – cutting inside and scoring for LFC. His last Liverpool goal was Jota in a nutshell. It was a derby winner against Everton in April, in which he wriggled through a group of defenders before taking his shot so early it left everyone flat-footed. And off he went, celebrating in front of those fans who loved him. Those fans who felt that connection. Those fans who won't forget the memories he left behind and who, no doubt, will sing his name for years to come. RIP, Diogo and André. YNWA. 'It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you had got married. To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you' – Cristiano Ronaldo pays tribute to his international teammate Diogo Jota. From his time in Portugal's Primeira Liga right through to Nations League and Premier League glory, we look back at Diogo Jota's career. The death of Diogo Jota hits me hard as a Liverpool fan. It is salutary reminder that using a tragedy, any tragedy for a cheap gag is tasteless in the extreme. Football divides us sometimes, death should unite us' – Kev McCready. Please send your letters to There will be a moment of silence before both of the Euro 2025 matches in Switzerland. Join Emillia Hawkins from 5pm BST for MBM coverage of Belgium v Italy, with Barry Glendenning covering Spain v Portugal at 8pm. The Football Weekly Extra podcast is here for you. Finland are up and running at the Euros after beating Iceland 1-0 in the tournament opener, as are Norway, 2-1 victors over hosts Switzerland. 'This was important, this means a lot for us … the goal was euphoria for me but it was damn important for the team as well,' said Ada Hegerberg. Martin Ho has signed a three-year deal to take over as Tottenham Women's new head coach until 2028. A consortium spearheaded by Gareth Bale has submitted an offer to buy his hometown club, Cardiff City. Everton are closing in on the signing of Villarreal's France Under-21 striker Thierno Barry for a fee of about £27m. And Chinese third-tier club Changchun Xidu are counting the cost of trying to throw visiting opponents off their game, having been fined for placing superstitious paper charms in the away dressing room. Get ready for Wafcon 2024, just a year later than billed. Osasu Obayiuwana has more, including the return of Jorge Vilda. Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí is back to spearhead Spain's push for Euros glory. Nick Ames reports. And Ashifa Kassam explains how that kiss ended up transforming Spanish football. Xabi Alonso is relishing the value of Fede Valverde, as Sid Lowe explains. John Duerden has written on Al-Hilal and the strength of Saudi football. The Rumour Mill rolls on. And check out all the latest men's and women's moves in the window.
