Diogo Jota’s boyhood team has shared an “eternal tribute” to the late Liverpool FC forward. The Portuguese star tragically died aged 28 last month when he was killed in a car accident alongside his brother, Andre Silva, who was aged 25.
The world of football has united in the wake of the tragedy to mourn the brothers and pay tribute to their legacy. Jota and Silva hailed from Gondomar, a small city 7km east of Porto, and their boyhood team shared a moving tribute to the brothers who meant so much to their community.
The fourth tier Portuguese side has dedicated their kit for the 2025/26 season to the brothers as the shirt is emblazoned with their faces. The back of the shirt features the two brothers’ names underneath an infinity symbol.
A translation of the announcement said: ” More than a jersey, a tribute eternal. This season, Gondomar Sport Club enters the field with a heart full of memories and feelings.
“Our new jersey brings in great the image of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, two sons of Gondomar who left us too soon, but who will live forever in the history of our club and our football.
“Every time our athletes put on this jersey, it’s like stepping on the field with them. Because football is more than victories and goals, it’s legacy, it’s family, it’s love for our land.”
The ECHO visited Gondomar last month and heard first hand just why the two brothers were so adored by their community. The academy at Gondomar Sporte Club was renamed in honour of Jota in 2022 as the forward played for the team until he was 17 years old before he joined Paços de Ferreira.
To commemorate his time at the club, a mural was created featuring an image of Jota as a child in the Gondomar kit and then later in his career when he represented the Portugal national side.
A quote on the centre of the mural reads : “Nao e importante de onde vimos mas sim para onde vamos.” A translation of this reads: “It’s not important where we come from but where we’re going.”
Members of the community told the ECHO about the meaning behind the quote as Jota’s journey to become a Premier League star was one of the reasons he symbolised so much to the people of Gondomar.
Most stars who end up representing the Portugal national side are snatched up during their early years by the big clubs such as Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Porto. However, Jota stayed with his local team in Gondomar until he was 17 years old and only enjoyed a year long loan spell at Porto, before he made the move to England.
A Gondomar native named Goncalo Ferreira said this unique journey is why he is such an inspirational figure to the people in the small city located 7km east of Porto. He said: “It’s not usual in football.
“When kids are 12/13, they go to the biggest clubs like Porto, Sporting and Benfica. He didn’t go that way. He marked his career in football in a special way because he didn’t follow everyone.
“He followed his convictions.” Rita Silva also echoed the meaning of the quotes as she explained how Jota was an inspiration to his community.
The 17-year-old said: “He was the boy who got out. This is a small city and all of us dream to win in life and go to be the best in every work field we can. He got out – he was the one who got out and he was an example for everyone.
“He was a kid like us. He went to our school. He played in our fields and he won in life.” Jota’s legacy rising from his humble roots to become a Premier League star is something the community will always treasure.
Locals also value how he continued to represent his community throughout his journey to the top as Celia Almeida said: “He was always the boy from Gondomar.”
The ECHO spoke to Jota and Silva’s childhood friend, Cosme Oliveira, who explained how what they symbolised will continue to inspire the next generation, as Jota’s quote on the walls on the Estádio de São Miguel will always remain true.
The 30-year-old said: “They never lost their roots here. They never forgot this little town and what we represent. The good memories that we have with them here will always live.”