The football world came together in a moving tribute to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva during Liverpool's pre-season friendly against Preston North End. The match, held at Deepdale, was marked by emotional renditions of Elvis Presley's Can't Help Falling in Love and Liverpool's iconic anthem You'll Never Walk Alone.

A Minute of Silence and Wreath Laying

As the players walked onto the pitch, a minute of silence was impeccably observed, with Liverpool fans filling the away end with flags and scarves commemorating Jota. Preston captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath in front of the traveling Liverpool supporters, visibly emotional during the tribute.

Jota's Legacy Honored

The match program featured a black and white image of Jota holding the Premier League trophy, accompanied by heartfelt tributes to both Jota and his brother. Liverpool has retired Jota's number 20 shirt across all areas of the club, a decision announced at 20:20 BST on Friday.

Arne Slot's Emotional Address

In his first interview since Jota's tragic passing, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot emphasized the importance of embracing emotions. "If we want to laugh, we laugh; if we want to cry, we're going to cry," Slot told Liverpool TV. "We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go."

Jota's Career Highlights

Jota, who scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool, played a pivotal role in the club's FA Cup and League Cup victories in 2022, as well as their Premier League title win last season. He also represented Portugal, scoring 14 goals in 49 international appearances, with his final match being the Nations League final victory over Spain on June 8.

The Tragic Accident

The Guardia Civil reported that Jota and his brother died in a car crash on July 3 in the Spanish province of Zamora. The accident occurred when their Lamborghini experienced a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle. The brothers were en route to the Spanish port of Santander, where Jota was to return to Liverpool for pre-season training.

A Community United in Grief

The tributes extended beyond the match, with Liverpool fans expressing their grief and admiration for Jota through various gestures, including wearing commemorative t-shirts and scarves. The 20th minute of the match saw the crowd burst into another rendition of Jota's song, a testament to the lasting impact he had on the club and its supporters.