Former Liverpool star pays touching Diogo Jota tribute in ‘mark of respect’ for his late friend following the Portuguese forward’s tragic death

A ex-Liverpool star has adopted Diogo Jota‘s shirt number as a tribute to his former team-mate.

On July 3, Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died when their car crashed in the early hours in northern Spain.

The 28-year-old forward had recently married his childhood sweetheart at a ceremony in his native Portugal following a campaign culminating in trophy-winning successes for both club and country.

After the incident Liverpool announced that Jota’s No 20 would be immediately retired for all levels following consultation with his widow and his family.

Meanwhile former Liverpool midfielder James Milner has opted to adopt the shirt number as a way to pay tribute to his late friend.

On Friday Brighton announced on Friday their shirt numbers for the 2025-26 campaign, but the veteran midfielder Milner was not occupying his usual No 6.

The 39-year-old midfielder explained that he wanted to wear his late friend’s number as a ‘mark of respect’

The pair played together at Liverpool between 2020 and 2023 before Milner joined Brighton

Instead, after Carlos Baleba’s switch to No 17 freed up the No 20 shirt, Milner decided to adopt it as a mark of respect to Jota.

‘Once I heard Carlos was looking to change his number and 20 was available, I wanted to do it as a mark of respect and pay tribute to Diogo Jota,’ Milner told the club’s social media.

‘He was an amazing player who I was fortunate to play with and a great friend as well.

‘It will be a great honour to wear his number in the Premier League this year.’

Milner and Jota played together at Anfield between 2020 and 2023, when the former England international joined the Seagulls.

The 39-year-old – who signed a new one-year deal on the South Coast in June – needs 16 more Premier League appearances to overtake Gareth Barry as the league’s all-time leader on 653 games.