Liverpool FC Retire No. 20 Shirt to Honour Diogo Jota
Liverpool Football Club, wey don dey for 133 years, don do sometin wey dem neva do before—dem don retire de No. 20 shirt for all levels of de club, from men’s team to women’s team and even de academy, to honour dia star player, Diogo Jota, wey die.
Dis decision come afta dem yarn wit Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, and im family, to show say dem no go ever forget Jota, wey be dia forever No. 20. Na big respect for de guy wey shake de football world wit im talent before im tragic death on July 3, 2025.
Diogo Jota, de 28-year-old Portugal guy, join Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 for like €44.7 million.
For de five years wey im dey, e turn hero for fans, score 65 goals in 182 matches, and help dem win big trophies like de 2022 FA Cup, 2022 League Cup, and de 2024–25 Premier League title—Liverpool’s 20th league trophy.
Im last goal, a wicked one for Merseyside derby against Everton, help dem lock de title, make everybody see say Jota na guy wey dey show face wen e matter pass. Im runs, im sharp finishing, and de way im dey cut in from left wing make fans dey sing, “Ohhh, he wears the number 20,” for Anfield, show say dem love am wella.
De decision to retire No. 20 shirt come afta Jota die in car accident for Zamora, Spain, wit im brother, André Silva, wey be player for Penafiel in Portugal second division. Na tire wey burst cause de crash wen Jota dey try overtake on de A52.
De tin pain football people wella. Liverpool no waste time, dem show love quick-quick, cos Jota mean plenty to players, staff, and fans. “Diogo join us in 2020, e win us number 20, and e wear de number 20 wit pride and love. For Liverpool Football Club, e go forever be our number 20,” de club yarn, to show say de number 20 and de 20th league title connect for Jota.
To retire shirt number no be small tin for football, and na de first time Liverpool dey do dis kain tin.
Michael Edwards, de oga for football for Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports, talk say, “I believe say na de first time for Liverpool Football Club history wey we dey give dis kain honour to one person. By retiring dis squad number, we dey make am forever—nobody go forget am.” Fans too no gree, dem gather for Anfield, drop flowers, No. 20 balloons, and write messages like “Forever 20” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” One fan even talk say, “E no be like say e die as retiree. E die as player. No. 20 no fit be for anoda person again.”
Jota’s funeral for im hometown, Gondomar, Portugal, see Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and teammate Andy Robertson carry flowers wey dem shape like shirts, wit numbers 20 and 30 for Jota and im brother.
Football people from everywhere mourn am—Kylian Mbappé dedicate goal to Jota, even Oasis show Jota’s No. 20 jersey for dia reunion tour in Cardiff. Liverpool go do more tribute for dia pre-season friendly against Preston on July 13, 2025, wit one minute silence, black armbands, and dem go sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” for Deepdale, to make sure Jota’s name stay alive.
Jota no just be star for field, e be humble guy wey everybody like. Im death, just 11 days afta im marry Rute Cardoso, pain Liverpool people wella. De club ogas, like John Henry and Billy Hogan, talk say Jota’s contribution no get measure and e touch dem personally.
By retiring de No. 20 shirt, Liverpool wan make sure say Jota’s goals, im passion, and de love wey dem get for am no go ever die. As de Reds dey move forward, dem carry Jota’s loss for heart, but dem also carry im shine, wey go forever be dia No. 20.