A poignant tribute unfolded at Anfield on Saturday 27 December 2025, as the two young sons of the late Diogo Jota joined mascots on the pitch ahead of the first fixture between his former clubs, Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
An Emotional Anfield Scene
The players were led out by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk to sustained applause from supporters of both teams. Jota's sons, Dinis and Duarte, stood alongside the team mascots in a moving moment that united the stadium in remembrance. The Portugal forward, who had a successful spell at Wolves before joining Liverpool in 2020, was tragically killed alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in a car crash in Spain on 3 July 2025.
Club Tributes and Managerial Reflections
On Boxing Day night, Wolves representatives attended tributes outside Anfield, laying floral wreaths in honour of their former player. Ahead of the match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot dedicated his programme notes to Jota's family, acknowledging the difficulty of their first Christmas without him.
"Doing so leads me to think especially of the family of Diogo Jota on what will be their first Christmas without him," Slot wrote. "It is not my place to tell them where they should look for comfort... but I can only hope that the feeling of love and affection that Diogo still generates brings them some solace." He added that the sense of loss would be particularly strong on this day, marking the first meeting of Jota's two English clubs since his passing.
Klopp Remembers a Special Character
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also paid a heartfelt tribute, recalling Jota's immediate impact. "When I first met him properly, that spark was obvious straight away," Klopp told the Observer. "Of course, he was a top footballer... But what really caught my eye was the hunger, the humility. He didn't need to announce himself. He just worked." Klopp revealed his thought process in 2020 was clear: "'We need this guy.' Not only for his football, but for his character."
The commemorations at Anfield served as a powerful testament to Diogo Jota's legacy, transcending club rivalries and highlighting the profound personal loss felt by the football community. The shared grief of Liverpool and Wolves fans underscored the deep respect held for a player admired as much for his person as for his talent.
