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South Wales Guardian
4 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Diogo Jota: The small guy with a big dream who became a Premier League champion
Jota, who died in a car accident on Thursday aged 28, achieved that dream and much, much more. In the last weeks of his life, Jota enjoyed some incredible highs. He became a Premier League champion with Liverpool in May, featuring off the bench on the final day against Crystal Palace. Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2025 In early June, he secured further silverware with Portugal, as part of their squad which won the Nations League. On June 22, he married his partner Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children, describing it on social media hours before his death as 'a day we will never forget'. Jota grew up in Gondomar, and his parents Joaquim and Isabel were still paying for him to play for the local club until the age of 16. Gondomar's website describes the club as 'a story of passion and dedication' and there can surely be few better embodiments of those qualities than Jota. Speaking to Sky Sports in 2022, he said: 'This hunger has been with me ever since I can remember. In my youth, growing up, I never played for the big teams. 'I had a few team-mates who went to Porto or Benfica. I had trials there but I never stayed. I was one of the better ones, but never the best. 'From the moment that I had that opportunity, I never dropped it again. I think when we are young we always believe. But I probably did not believe that I could reach Liverpool. I just took it day by day.' He turned professional at Pacos de Ferreira in 2013 and earned what looked like a dream move to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid in 2016. However, he did not play a single game and moved back to northern Portugal on loan to play for Porto. He moved on loan for a second time in the summer of 2017 to Wolves, scoring 18 goals in 46 matches as he helped 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. He again hit double figures for goals as Wolves not only survived but thrived, finishing seventh in that first season and helping them qualify for the Europa League, where they would reach the quarter-finals in the following campaign, which was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. His love for football was matched by his love and proficiency for gaming, particularly FIFA – he even won the inaugural ePremier League tournament in 2020. Jota's form earned him a £41million move to champions Liverpool in September 2020, where he was set the mission by Jurgen Klopp, the Reds' head coach at the time, to challenge the established front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. He hit the ground running, with a goal eight minutes into his debut against Arsenal, and never looked back. A danger with either foot, he was a key contributor from the start and off the bench as the Reds came close to a quadruple in 2021-22 but ultimately came away with a domestic cup double, having lost out to Manchester City in the league by a point and Real Madrid in the Champions League. His worth to the club was reflected in the offer of a new contract in the summer of 2022 until 2027. He told Sky Sports in the summer that the contract extension was signed: 'The hard thing is not to reach the top of the mountain but to stay there. That phrase makes a lot of sense, certainly to me. 'It is the hardest bit because you always have people who want to reach there for the first time. You can never let them have more will than you.' As if to prove his point, Jota kept on climbing and earlier this summer became a Premier League champion. 'It is a remarkable achievement for a small guy that came from Gondomar, where I had this dream.' 🇵🇹 Becoming a Premier League champion was more than Diogo Jota dared dream of as an aspiring young footballer 🏆❤️ — Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 13, 2025 He told the Liverpool official website last month: '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. '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.' Jota's younger brother Andre Silva, also a professional footballer, died alongside him in the accident in Zamora, Spain, on Thursday morning. He is survived by his parents Joaquim and Isabel, his wife Rute and their three children.
Powys County Times
5 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Jamie Carragher ‘in a state of shock' following death of Diogo Jota
Jamie Carragher led the tributes to Diogo Jota following the Liverpool forward's death, aged 28. The Portuguese died following a car crash in Spain, along with his younger brother Andre Silva, who was also a professional footballer and played for Liga Portugal 2 side Penafiel. Former Liverpool and England defender Carragher said on Sky Sports News: 'Just in a state of shock. Not with anyone associated to Liverpool but football in general. It is one of the few times when the football family all come together. 'I just cannot believe it. For everybody involved but especially his family – his wife and the children they've got, it's devastating for all involved. 'I can only imagine how his team-mates feel at Liverpool and Portugal, they must be in a world of pain with his friends and family.' Jota helped Liverpool win the Premier League title last season and was part of the Portugal side that lifted the Nations League last month, while he got married less than a fortnight ago. Carragher added: 'It just shows us all how quickly life can change. What a summer he's had, and you get this devastating news that his family have had in the last few hours, you can't even comprehend it.' Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves posted on their Instagram stories following the announcement of their former Wolves team-mate's death. Mexico striker Jimenez, now at Fulham, said: 'It's hard to receive this kind of news, and I still can't believe it. Atlético de Madrid is shocked by the tragic news of the passing of former club player Diogo Jota and his brother André. We send our deepest condolences to their family and loved ones. May they rest in peace. — Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) July 3, 2025 'An excellent colleague, friend, and above all, a great father. Thanks for everything, my friend. We'll always remember you.' Jota's Portuguese compatriot Neves said: 'They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget them.' Jota's former clubs Porto and Atletico Madrid also took to social media. Porto said on X they were in 'mourning' in a statement, while Atletico added they were 'shocked by the tragic news'. My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA JOTA!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️ — LeBron James (@KingJames) July 3, 2025 Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville wrote on X: 'That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother. All my love and best wishes to his family.' NBA great and renowned Liverpool supporter LeBron James wrote on X: 'My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA (You'll Never Walk Alone) JOTA!!'
Powys County Times
5 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
It doesn't make sense – Cristiano Ronaldo leads tributes to Diogo Jota
Cristiano Ronaldo said 'it doesn't make sense' following the death of his Portugal team-mate Diogo Jota, aged 28. The Liverpool forward died following a car crash in Spain, along with his younger brother Andre Silva, who was also a professional footballer and played for Liga Portugal 2 side Penafiel. Jota helped Liverpool to win the Premier League title last season and was part of the Portugal side, along with Ronaldo, that lifted the Nations League last month, and he got married less than a fortnight ago. Não faz sentido. Ainda agora estávamos juntos na Seleção, ainda agora tinhas casado. À tua familia, à tua mulher e aos teus filhos, envio os meus sentimentos e desejo-lhes toda a força do mundo. Sei que estarás sempre com eles. Descansem em Paz, Diogo e André. Vamos todos sentir… — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) July 3, 2025 Ronaldo said in a post on X alongside a photo of Jota: 'It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten 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 Andre. We will all miss you.' Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also paid tribute to Jota, saying on Sky Sports News: 'Just in a state of shock. Not with anyone associated to Liverpool but football in general. It is one of the few times when the football family all come together. 'I just cannot believe it. For everybody involved but especially his family – his wife and the children they've got, it's devastating for all involved. 'I can only imagine how his team-mates feel at Liverpool and Portugal, they must be in a world of pain with his friends and family. 'It just shows us all how quickly life can change. What a summer he's had, and you get this devastating news that his family have had in the last few hours, you can't even comprehend it.' Atlético de Madrid is shocked by the tragic news of the passing of former club player Diogo Jota and his brother André. We send our deepest condolences to their family and loved ones. May they rest in peace. — Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) July 3, 2025 Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves posted on their Instagram stories following the announcement of their former Wolves team-mate's death. Mexico striker Jimenez, now at Fulham, said: 'It's hard to receive this kind of news, and I still can't believe it. 'An excellent colleague, friend, and above all, a great father. Thanks for everything, my friend. We'll always remember you.' Jota's Portuguese compatriot Neves said: 'They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget them.' My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA JOTA!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️ — LeBron James (@KingJames) July 3, 2025 Jota's former clubs Porto and Atletico Madrid also took to social media. Porto said on X they were in 'mourning' in a statement, while Atletico added they were 'shocked by the tragic news'. Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville wrote on X: 'That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother. All my love and best wishes to his family.' NBA great and well-known Liverpool supporter LeBron James posted on X: 'My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA (You'll Never Walk Alone) JOTA!!' — Gary Neville (@GNev2) July 3, 2025 Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot, who shared a dressing room with Jota on international duty with Portugal, said on his Instagram story: ' strength to the family.' UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement: 'Just three weeks ago, I had the honour of presenting Diogo Jota with a medal after the UEFA Nations League final – a moment of joy, pride, and celebration that will now forever be burned in memory with sorrow. 'His passion, energy and spirit on the field inspired everyone around him. It is devastating to think that a life so full of joy and potential has been taken far too soon. Rest in peace, dear Diogo. You will not be forgotten.'
