Liverpool, Portugal and EA Sports unveil permanent tributes to Diogo Jota

One year after the deaths of Portuguese international footballer Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a car accident, a series of permanent tributes have been established across the sports and esports organizations he represented. The memorials, coinciding with the anniversary of the July 3, 2025 crash, formally commemorate the forward's contributions to club, country, and competitive gaming.

Recognizing Jota's significant involvement in esports as the founder of the Luna Galaxy organization, EA SPORTS FC announced the renaming of its premier competitive gaming award. The newly titled Diogo Jota FC Pro World Championship Trophy will be presented for the first time at the Esports World Cup, scheduled for July 22 to 26, 2026. The publisher stated the decision to rename the trophy was made with the blessing of Jota's family.

Domestically, Liverpool Football Club unveiled a permanent installation at Anfield earlier this week. The memorial, named "Forever 20," honors both Jota and his brother. The sculpture incorporates a flowing heart—a reference to Jota's familiar goal celebration—alongside the numbers 20 and 30, representing the respective shirt numbers worn by the siblings.

Concurrent tributes are ongoing at the 2026 World Cup, where the Portuguese national team has integrated Jota's memory into their tournament campaign. Head coach Roberto Martinez named Jota an honorary member of the current squad, and his image has been regularly projected on stadium screens ahead of fixtures.

The national team's on-pitch memorials culminated during their Round of 32 match against Croatia on July 2. Following Portugal's 2-1 victory, captain Cristiano Ronaldo wore Jota's number 21 jersey and pointed to the sky, leading the squad in a coordinated photograph to recognize their late teammate.

The span of these commemorations—from physical monuments at Anfield to named trophies in international esports—ensures Jota's presence remains formalized within the institutions he influenced. Together, the respective actions of Liverpool, Portugal, and EA Sports secure his legacy across both traditional and digital athletics.