The late Diogo Jota, as a footballer, followed the path of gradual progress. The Portuguese forward had his major breakthrough at Liverpool, who acquired him from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020. Coach Arne Slot praised him for his tactical insight and spatial awareness.
Cristiano Ronaldo described the bewilderment after the death of his teammate Jota (and his brother André) in the Portuguese national team in one word. “Unreal.” They were on the field together just two months ago when Portugal won the Nations League for the second time. Jota only came on in the final against Spain during extra time. It was his 49th and final international match.
Diogo José Teixeira da Silva – Diogo Jota was his football name – grew up in Porto, where he played in the youth ranks of Gondomar. At that club in the Porto region, he still paid dues until he was sixteen. “My parents paid those dues,” Jota told Sky Sports in 2022. “I had to bring money to be allowed to play football. Only at Paços did I get some money.”
He wasn’t immediately one of the standouts at Paços de Ferreira, Jota acknowledged. “Some teammates were picked up by Benfica and Porto. I was never in the picture at the Portuguese top clubs. I did a few tryouts, but didn’t get a contract.”
Via a detour, Jota still got a chance at FC Porto when he didn’t break through at Atlético Madrid, who had picked him up from Paços in 2016. Jota didn’t get further than one appearance in a friendly match in Madrid. He didn’t play an official match for Atlético. The major breakthrough also failed to materialize at Porto.
At ‘Wolves’, Jota first took a step back
Like his illustrious compatriot Ronaldo, Jota made the move to England when Atlético Madrid loaned him to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2017/2018 season. The ‘Wolves’ were then still playing in the Championship, a division below the Premier League. “It felt like taking a step back to then take two forward.”
In 2020, Jota finally reached the top when Liverpool signed him. The English champions shared an understated video of his arrival at Anfield. Jota said how, as a player for Wolverhampton Wanderers, he was already impressed by the ambiance in that illustrious stadium.
“The legendary You’ll Never Walk Alone is always in the heads of the opponents. Now the Liverpool fans will sing it for me. I couldn’t possibly say no to this club with world-class players.”
Jota scores quickly in Liverpool debut
Jota was two-footed; he scored just as easily with his left as with his right foot. If you watch his goals for Liverpool on YouTube, what stands out most is how efficient Jota was in the opponent’s penalty area. He wasn’t a player who dribbled past five men, but his timing on runs and finishing was perfect.
Taking with the left and shooting with the right; Jürgen Klopp praised Jota’s refined kicking technique upon his arrival at Liverpool in 2020. “He has the technical qualities and the speed,” said Klopp. “Moreover, Diogo can play in three positions. That also makes him a versatile player.”
Jota told Sky Sports in 2022 what task Klopp had given him. “I had to challenge the starting attackers and, above all, not be satisfied with a role as a substitute. And that’s how I’ve always positioned myself. And with such great players around me, I also got better myself.”
Wearing number 20, Jota only needed eight minutes for his first goal for Liverpool in his debut against Arsenal. Despite injury woes, he also made an important contribution to the league title for Liverpool in the first season under the direction of Arne Slot, Klopp’s successor.
Coach Arne Slot praised Jota for his game intelligence
After Jota had saved his team from a defeat against Fulham, Slot praised the substitute for his game intelligence. “Diogo feels exactly where the spaces are and always knows how to do something good with the ball.”
The traditional pat on the head from the Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk after a goal illustrated his status at ‘The Reds’. Jota made himself loved at Anfield in five years. He had recently extended his contract with Liverpool until 2027. He played in 182 matches for Liverpool, scoring 65 goals and providing 26 assists, and won the Premier League, the FA Cup, and twice the League Cup.
Jota was married to Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children, eleven days ago. Liverpool announced on its own site that the club will assist the family after the death of the attacker. On Thursday, Liverpool fans laid flowers at the stadium for Jota, who turned 28.
Jota didn’t just score on the football field, but also virtually. He excelled as a gamer in the FIFA game. “I’m already looking forward to the new FIFA 23,” Jota told Sky Sports a year earlier. “I love gaming and football, a nice combination with that game.”
As a player for Wolverhampton, he won the first e-Premier League tournament in 2020. At Liverpool, he had no competition as a ‘gamer’, Jota said, laughing. His e-sports team, Luna Galaxy, later won the World Cup.