As the world begins to come to terms with the tragic death of Liverpool striker Diogo Jota, memories and tributes are coming in from just about everywhere.
Jota was a brilliant player across five years with the Reds, but he also touched countless lives with his personality off the field.
One Liverpool supporter shared a story of how Jota sent his son a video message during a time of struggle, and plenty of other, similar tales are also coming to light.
Jota was loved by his teammates as someone who seemingly got along with everyone, and, above all, a person who was utterly devoted to his friends and family.
Liverpool fans saw that side of Jota, in glimpses, but it was for his performances in a red shirt that they will remember him most.
And as the fanbase try to process the devastating news of he and his brother Andre’s passing, supporters have been picking out their favourite memories from Jota’s half-decade stint at Anfield.
Liverpool fans pick favourite Diogo Jota memories
Having won the FA Cup, two Carabao Cups and a Premier League with Liverpool, there are lots of Jota moments for supporters to pick from.
The 28-year-old was a constant in the Liverpool squad and had a knack of bagging a goal just when the team needed him most.
But according to some fans, his best performance in a Reds shirt actually came without either a goal or an assist. Looking back on social media, some highlighted his display against Manchester City at Anfield in October 2022 as his most complete.
“Favourite Jota performance, no goal or assist but an incredible selfless performances against treble winning Man City,” said one supporter. “He worked so hard for us in this game that he injured himself and missed out on his only ever World Cup.”
READ MORE: Diogo Jota: Remembering a hugely talented footballer but an even better human being
“In a sea of goals, Everton, Arsenal, Spurs, winding the Leicester fans up, this might be my favourite Jota performance,” agreed another. “No goal or assist or moment of individual brilliance, just an incredibly selfless performance perfectly representative of the player and the man.”
“Probably my favourite performance of him,” someone else said, clipping a compilation of Jota on the day. “Top 10 performance from a Liverpool player in the 2020s,” another supporter claimed.
“This will always stick in my mind. Man left it ALL on the pitch,” one more concurred.
Others put forward different memories, with the winning penalty in the 2022 Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester and his iconic late goal to beat Tottenham in 2023 strong contenders.
“My favourite Jota moment without a doubt is giving the fingers to the Leicester fans after scoring the winning penalty in the cup,” one fan said. “What a boy. Always had the feeling Jota was like one of the lads and it doesn’t half feel like we’ve lost one of them today. RIP 20.”
“Favourite Jota moment is the Spurs goal but I’ll never forget being at Anfield for that Leicester game,” another commented. “Came on at half time, got us back in the game, scored the winning pen and told the Leicester fans to eff off. He truly understood what it meant to play for Liverpool.”
“Probably my favourite Jota moment,” one more fan said, referencing the Spurs winner. “In a season that was largely terrible, he provided us with a moment like this. Unbridled joy and a reason to keep believing, for the chance to be happy. Even for a fleeting moment which will now last forever. Love you Diogo.”
Many other notable Jota moments
While the Leicester penalty and his subsequent reaction and the Tottenham strike were two of his most notable moments at Liverpool, the City game did perhaps encapsulate Jota better.
He ran and ran on that day, winning headers, regaining possession and being a threat on the break. As Liverpool had their backs to the wall against a superior team, he dug in and helped them emerge victorious.
That he picked up an injury and went on to miss the World Cup as a result only added to the feeling that Jota truly left it all on the pitch.
But there are also plenty of other moments worthy of mention. Jota loved playing against Arsenal, with his Carabao Cup semi-final double at the Emirates a particularly good memory.
He also buried a penalty in the FA Cup final shootout in 2022, scored at Old Trafford, the Etihad and Goodison Park and got the first goal of the Arne Slot era. A fantastic body of work for a player and person who will never, ever be forgotten.
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