“The Number 20 Will Never Be Worn Again” – Anfield Weeps for Diogo Jota in Emotional Tribute

There are football matches… and then there are moments when football becomes something more than a game. Monday at Anfield was not about results, not about goals, not about tactics or formations. It was about memory, mourning, and love. It was about Diogo Jota.

This was Liverpool’s first home game since the shocking death of their beloved number 20. A double-header friendly against Athletic Bilbao was scheduled, but no one in the stadium cared about the final whistle. What they came for was something deeper — a final farewell. A moment to honour the man whose heart once beat for Liverpool, and who now lives only in memory.

Before a single ball was kicked, the tone was set. Silence draped itself over Anfield like a heavy cloak. Liverpool legend Phil Thompson, representing the club’s history and soul, walked out onto the pitch alongside Athletic Bilbao’s president Jon Uriarte. They carried wreaths — simple, powerful symbols of grief — and laid them with great care at the edge of the six-yard box. It was the same area where Jota had celebrated many goals. But this time, there was no roar. Just stillness, and tears.

Above them, the billboards surrounding Anfield glowed not with sponsorships or slogans, but with a message that brought even the hardest hearts to their knees: “Rest in Peace Diogo Jota and Andre Silva – You’ll Never Walk Alone.” The words flickered like a candle in a storm, burning into the soul of every person present. Some wept openly. Others stared silently. Everyone felt it.

And then, the voice of Anfield — the fans — rose in chorus. Thousands of people, bound together by pain and pride, began to sing about Jota. It wasn’t just a chant. It was a hymn. It was the anthem of the brokenhearted. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” echoed through the stadium with more emotion than ever before. Flags soared, scarves waved, and high above, a massive banner unveiled the image of Jota’s smiling face, surrounded by red and white — the colours he fought for.

A special moment was planned, and it shook every person to their core. In the 20th minute of both matches — to mark Jota’s iconic shirt number — the referee blew the whistle not for a foul, but for memory. The games stopped. The players stood still. And Anfield stood up. Applause rained down like a storm. Coaches clapped, players clapped, fans clapped. They weren’t just honouring a footballer. They were grieving a brother.

Some fans held up handwritten messages: “Gone too soon,” “Our number 20 forever,” “We’ll see you in the skies.” Others simply cried. Older supporters whispered stories to their grandchildren about Jota’s goals, his smile, and his bravery. Younger fans clung to their replica kits, his name printed proudly on the back. They may never see him play again, but they’ll never stop wearing his name.

In a powerful decision by the club, Liverpool announced that the number 20 shirt will never be worn again. It has been retired — not out of tradition, but out of love. It was Jota’s number. It belonged to him, and now it belongs to eternity. When future generations ask why, they’ll be told a story — not just of a great player, but of a man who gave his all, every time he pulled on that shirt.

Anfield has witnessed many nights of glory — comebacks, trophies, legends born. But this night was different. This night was about letting go. And yet, no one really let go. Because Jota remains — in the walls, in the chants, in the memories. His story is written into the bricks of the Kop. His name is whispered in every corner of the city. His spirit, like the anthem, will never walk alone.

As the final whistle blew on the second match, the stadium didn’t erupt. Instead, it stood once more. One last applause for the man who once made them dream. And in the fading light, one could almost feel it — the wind brushing through the flags, the soft echo of a voice, a step on the grass that wasn’t really there.

Diogo Jota may be gone. But Anfield — his home, his temple — will never forget. And neither will the world. ❤️