When two little boys walk onto the Anfield turf this Saturday afternoon, 60,000 hearts will ache in unison. Dinis and Duarte Jota, sons of the late Diogo Jota, will accompany the matchday mascots before Liverpool face Wolverhampton Wanderers — their father's two Premier League clubs, meeting for the first time since his death.
A tragedy that shook football
Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in the Spanish province of Zamora on July 3rd, 2025. The Portugal international was returning to Merseyside for pre-season training. He was 28 years old. Just eleven days earlier, he had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in a ceremony in Porto.
The football world stopped. Liverpool immediately retired the number 20 shirt, which Jota had worn since joining from Wolves in September 2020. The club also committed to paying out the remainder of his contract to his family.
Fields of gold
At Anfield's opening match of the season against Bournemouth in August, Rute and her children were welcomed as guests of honour. The Kop unfurled a giant tifo bearing his image, accompanied by a message referencing his favourite song: "We'll remember you when you walk in fields of gold."
Saturday's gesture carries even deeper meaning. Having Dinis and Duarte lead out the teams ensures Jota's presence is felt on what promises to be an emotionally charged afternoon. Both boys, alongside their younger sister, were on the pitch when Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy last May — a title their father helped secure with 65 goals in 182 appearances.
Slot's touching tribute
In his programme notes ahead of the Wolves clash, Liverpool manager Arne Slot reflected on the weight of the occasion:
"Reflecting on everything that has happened over the last 12 months ignites a rollercoaster of emotions. It is not my place to tell them where they should look for comfort — if that is even possible — but I can only hope that the feeling of love and affection that Diogo still generates brings them some solace."
A legacy beyond statistics
Jota's numbers tell one story: 65 goals for Liverpool, 44 for Wolves, an FA Cup, two League Cups, a Premier League medal, and 49 caps for Portugal. But the tears that will flow at Anfield on Saturday speak of something statistics cannot capture.
James Milner, wearing Jota's number 20 for Brighton earlier this month, received a standing ovation from the Liverpool faithful. Jordan Henderson dedicated a goal to his former teammate on what would have been Jota's birthday. Former colleagues continue to honour him in ways big and small.
When Dinis and Duarte step onto that famous grass, they will carry with them the love of two clubs, two nations, and millions of fans who never forgot their father. In football's cold world of contracts and transfers, some bonds transcend everything.
Kick-off at Anfield is at 3:00 PM GMT.
