EA Sports immortalizes Diogo Jota after removing Liverpool hero from EAFC 25 game
The Liverpool man was also an avid player of EAFC (formerly FIFA), and makers EA Sports have become the latest to pay their respects following the brothers' shock passing. If there is one remotely positive thing to come out of the tragedy, it is a reminder of the impact that Diogo and Andre had on so many, as has been made apparent by the mass outpouring of grief from all over the world. Part of the massive legacy that Jota leaves behind is his own eSports team, Luna Galaxy.
He personally was just as talented on the virtual pitch as the real one, winning a Premier League FIFA tournament back in 2020; he beat Trent Alexander-Arnold in the final. He was also at one point the top-ranked player in FUT Champions, a competitive game mode within Ultimate Team.
READ MORE: Lionel Messi gave Hugo Ekitike three-word nickname ahead of Liverpool transfer
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Hugo Ekitike deal, Alexander Isak admission, Rodrygo talks
EA Sports has now marked that part of Jota's life with a touching in-game tribute. Having initially removed his Ultimate Team card from the EAFC 25 game, as is standard practice when an active player passes away, the makers of the game have since put together a poignant gesture.
Every player of FC25 Ultimate Team has been sent a special tifo pack. It contains his No. 18 jersey from his time at Wolves, his No. 19 jersey from Porto, and his No. 20 jersey from Liverpool.
Liverpool, meanwhile, has taken the decision to retire the No. 20 jersey. Jota is now listed under his own "forever" section on the club's squad list.
Players can choose to display the tifos in-game as a virtual tribute to Jota.
"To honor and celebrate the life of one of our most passionate FC players, three new Diogo Jota Tifos have been added to your UT Club," EA Sports wrote to its players. The message was headlined "one of us".
It isn't the first eSports-related tribute Jota has received. Among the moving scenes of tributes laid outside Anfield, various gaming controllers were left.
Like Liverpool, both Porto and Wolves have also marked Jota's passing in their own ways. Molineux was also flooded with tributes, with the flowers now set to be turned into colored ink to form part of a more permanent memento.
Meanwhile, Wolves also enrolled Jota into the club's Hall of Fame. Made up of historic players and teams from the club's past, he is one of fewer than 40 members, and the first addition in more than two years.
Porto will honor Jota at an upcoming friendly with Atletico Madrid. The forward actually represented both clubs, although he never played competitively for the Spanish side.
Around the world, players have also been paying personal tributes by emulating Jota's "gaming" celebration. They sit down and mime holding a controller, as Jota would do on occasion.
Darwin Nunez and Ousmane Dembele have both paid their respect in this fashion, as have others. Like the EA Sports tribute, it's a fitting touch to honor someone who was genuinely elite in two separate fields.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘In the End, Everything Will Be Okay' With ‘Money Heist' Star Esther Acebo Boarded by Citizen Skull (Exclusive)
L.A.-based Citizen Skull Productions has boarded In the End, Everything Will Be Okay, the second feature from Spanish filmmaker Néstor Ruiz Medina. The Hollywood Reporter can also present photos from the set of the project that is currently shooting across various regions of Spain, including Cuenca, Madrid, and Cádiz. More from The Hollywood Reporter Netflix Greenlights K-Pop Drama 'Variety' Starring Son Ye-jin and Jo Yu-ri Ellen DeGeneres Says She and Wife Portia de Rossi Moved to the U.K. Because of President Trump Girl Group XG on Their Dynamite Coachella Debut and Sharing Their Love for Fans on "Million Places" The film stars collaborators from Medina's previous work, including Money Heist star Esther Acebo, who played Stockholm in the Netflix hit series, Roberto Manrique (Sin Senos Sí Hay Paraíso), María Lázaro (21 Positions), Alex Sorian Brown (Evan Wood, Hour and Twenty), Álvaro Manso (30 Monedas), Nüll García (Punto Nemo), Elena Zurita (Islas) and Ana Ruano (Breathless, El Ser Querido). Its involvement marks a key step in Citizen Skull's effort to grow its presence in Europe. 'Citizen Skull is excited to join this project and to continue to expand into the European marketplace,' said owner and producer Mark Myers. The film's narrative intertwines the stories of several protagonists: Enrique, a 70-year-old man facing eviction from his boat; his niece Paloma, who leaves her daughter with him while attending a spiritual retreat to reset her chaotic life; Víctor, Paloma's ex, who cares for elderly people and lives with Blanca, a social media influencer hiding secrets; and Santiago, a street-surviving member of the Furry community fighting to save his sick dog Rubio. 'We came across this project at the Marché du Film and felt it was the perfect opportunity to continue our expansion into the Spanish market with a story that is Spanish at its core, yet conceived for international audiences,' said Tonja Rene, producer and manager at Citizen Skull. The film is produced by Spain's Mono con Pistolas, Sorenfilms, and Hackeo Productions, with backing from regional and local governments, including the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha and the Diputación de Cuenca. Medina, whose feature debut was 21 Positions, is a two-time Goya nominee for his short films. 'Filming in Cuenca, where my family is originally from, is deeply personal,' he said. 'We're also shooting in Cádiz, where I live now, and in Madrid, where I grew up. This mosaic of locations helps us move beyond the usual production hubs, such as Barcelona or the Canary Islands. It's also a gesture toward decentralizing Spanish cinema.' Citizen Skull recently wrapped Serena Y, a Spanish-American short directed by Italian filmmaker Francesco Cocco, with several other projects in early development as part of its broader European strategy. In the End, Everything Will Be Okay is expected to wrap principal photography in late September, with delivery slated for later this year. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Greatest Needle Drops in Film History The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Diogo Jota's wife remembers their wedding day in heartbreaking message after Liverpool soccer star's death
A devastated Rute Cardoso broke her silence following the death of her husband, Liverpool star Diogo Jota, who was tragically killed in a car crash in early July that also claimed the life of his younger brother. In a heart-wrenching message shared on Instagram, the mother of three mourned the loss of the Portuguese forward, whom she married on June 22. '1 month of our 'not even death separates us,' Cardoso wrote in Portuguese, including snapshots from the couple dancing at their wedding reception. 'Forever, A tua branquinha.' Advertisement Another image showed Cardoso and Jota holding hands at the their wedding. 8 Rute Cardoso and Diogo Jota on their wedding day in June 2025. @diogoj_18/Instagram Advertisement 8 The couple had been together for 10 years. @diogoj_18/Instagram Jota and brother Andre Silva, a fellow soccer player, were found dead after Jota's Lamborghini veered off a road in Spain and burst into flames. Jota was 28 and Silva was 26. 'Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,' the club said in a statement on July 3. '… Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. Advertisement 8 The fiery July 2025 crash claimed the lives of Diogo Jota and brother Andre Silva. Getty Images 8 The incident took place in northwest Spain. AFP via Getty Images 'We will continue to provide them with our full support.' The horrific incident occurred in northwestern Spain when the Lamborghini's tire appeared to burst while 'overtaking' another vehicle, investigators said. Advertisement It is unclear who was driving. 8 Diogo Jota with his family @rutecfcardoso14/Instagram 8 Diogo Jota in action for Liverpool in March 2025. AFP via Getty Images The fiery crash took place weeks after Jota and Cardoso tied the knot. In his final Instagram post on July 2, Jota reminisced about the day he and Cardoso would 'never forget.' The couple was joined by their children on the big day, including their infant daughter, who was born in November 2024. 8 Tributes were laid out for Diogo Joto at Anfield in Liverpool, England. Getty Images Advertisement 8 A flower tribute that spelled 'Jota' was seen outside Anfield Stadium. REUTERS Jota and Cardoso had been together for 10 years. The star forward, who scored 65 goals in 182 appearances with Liverpool, helped the club win the Premier League last year. Advertisement In 49 appearances for Portugal's national team, he scored 14 goals and won the UEFA Nations League twice. Jota signed with Liverpool in 2020.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'I'd never give a guarantee' Newcastle Unsure Liverpool Target Isak Will Travel For Tour
Isak's Wage Stand-off Leaves Liverpool Watching with Interest Wage demands push Newcastle into awkward position Newcastle United have a dilemma on their hands and it wears the No.14 shirt. According to TalkSport's Alex Crook and Joe Moore, Alexander Isak is demanding a new deal worth £300,000 per week, a figure that would thrust him into the Premier League's elite earners bracket. In return, he's offering goals, 62 in 109 games, and the kind of movement and instinct that only top-tier forwards possess. Isak's current deal still has three years left to run, yet there's a growing sense on Tyneside that the Swedish striker knows his value. And while Newcastle had been preparing to offer a healthy increase to £180,000 per week, the new demand has come as something of a shock internally. It's left the club hierarchy caught off guard, contemplating whether to shatter their wage structure or risk unsettling their biggest star. Photo IMAGO 'Newcastle continue to insist that Isak is 'not for sale',' reads a line from Luke Edwards' report in The Telegraph, but football doesn't always operate on proclamations. The reality is often more pragmatic, especially when your top scorer begins to flirt with possibilities elsewhere. Howe unable to shut down speculation Eddie Howe has done well to manage the headlines around his top players. But this time, he seems to be on the back foot. Isak was left out of the side beaten 4-0 by Celtic in pre-season, and when asked about it, Howe admitted, 'He's part of our squad. At this moment in time, I expect him to come. I'd never give a guarantee about anybody [staying] because I've been in football long enough to know I could end up looking silly.' Photo IMAGO The message is clear. Howe hopes Isak stays. But in football, hope is not a plan. Complicating matters further is the club's recent history. Former sporting director Paul Mitchell reportedly refused to open talks on a new deal, believing Isak was already well rewarded. That decision has since ruffled feathers in the player's camp, and Mitchell's exit has not helped settle things. Instead, the forward's agents have been issuing veiled comments that do little to reassure Newcastle that their man is all in. Liverpool watching and waiting Liverpool's name has been tethered to Isak all summer, and while any serious pursuit seems to be parked following the expected arrival of Hugo Ekitike, the admiration remains. It's no secret that Arne Slot appreciates mobile, high-IQ strikers who can press, drop in and finish. Isak ticks every box. His intelligence off the ball, deft touch and composure in tight spaces mark him out as a natural fit in Liverpool's evolving front line. And given that Fabrizio Romano has claimed Isak is 'refusing to close the door' on a move to Anfield, there's every reason to believe Liverpool's interest is far from over. Photo IMAGO That said, the club have already committed serious funds to secure Ekitike. And with FSG's well-documented adherence to squad balance and wage structure, it's unlikely they'd match or exceed Isak's £300,000-per-week demands. But Liverpool have been here before. They've waited patiently for the right opening, with Virgil van Dijk, with Alisson, with Darwin Nunez, and they'll do so again if the prize is worth it. Long-term decisions approaching for both clubs Newcastle's strategy in the next few months will be critical. Either they meet Isak's demands and crown him as their financial figurehead, or they risk unsettling a striker who already knows his stock is rising among Europe's elite. The Champions League qualification last season bought them some breathing room, but elite players want guarantees, not only of wages but of trajectory. If Newcastle choose to hold firm and delay a new deal, suitors will circle. If they over-extend to keep him, the knock-on effect could be severe when it comes to managing expectations within the squad. Photo IMAGO Liverpool, meanwhile, can afford to be opportunistic. They've added youth and potential in Ekitike, but Isak represents something more established, more proven. Whether this is a smokescreen to bump up the player's value or a genuine indication of movement, the reality is that Liverpool are once again in the conversation for a game-changing forward. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis Supporters will be split on this one. There's no doubt Isak's talent is exceptional. His goal record at Newcastle has been superb, but what really stands out is his ability to lead the line with grace and authority. He's got pace, sharp feet, a cool head in front of goal and a work ethic that suits the Liverpool system. But there are questions. Is he worth £300,000 a week? Probably not in the current FSG model. That sort of deal throws off the internal structure and creates ripple effects that are difficult to manage. Mohamed Salah, the club's best player in a generation, is barely north of that figure. If Isak were to arrive on such terms, it would pose serious dressing room and financial challenges. Ekitike is the safer play for now, but fans can't ignore the lure of seeing Isak in red. He has that aura, that next-level potential. If Newcastle fumble negotiations and Liverpool are in a position next summer with a more flexible wage budget, this could resurface. For now, it's one to monitor. But the thought of a forward line featuring Isak, Ekitike, Diaz and Salah should get pulses racing across Merseyside.
