Liverpool striker Diogo Jota modified his title throughout his unbelievable profession, and there is a particular cause why he made the life-changing determination – and his brother did not

Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota opted to alter his title throughout his unbelievable profession, and there was a really particular cause behind his determination.

The Portuguese striker for Liverpool, who was instrumental in profitable the Premier League earlier this 12 months, has sadly died following a street site visitors accident in Zamora, Spain, on Thursday morning. His youthful brother and footballer, Andre, 26, additionally misplaced his life in the identical accident.

Diogo’s tragic demise comes simply 11 days after he married his long-term girlfriend Rute Cardoso on 22 June throughout a surprising ceremony in Porto. The couple have three kids, two sons and a daughter, who’s their youngest, born in November 2024.

All through his spectacular soccer profession, he was generally known as Diogo Jota – however this is not his actual surname. In truth, when he was born in Massarelos, Porto, on December 4, 1996, his mother and father, Joaquim and Isabel Silva, named him Diogo Jose Teixeira da Silva. So why did he change his title?

READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo’s heartbreaking tribute to Diogo Jota after tragic automotive crash demise

It has been reported that when Diogo was youthful, he would request Diogo J to be printed on the again of his soccer shirt to assist differentiate himself from others who bear the identical title of Diogo or Silva. From there, he was affectionately generally known as Diogo Jose or Diogo J.

However why did he go by Jota as an alternative of Jose? The title Jota is the Portuguese pronunciation of the letter J. Due to this fact, his title going ahead professionally was Diogo Jota.

His youthful brother, André Filipe Teixeira da Silva, who performed as a midfielder for FC Penafiel, selected to maintain the household title, going by André Silva. This led to some confusion with one other footballer, RB Leipzig striker Andre Silva – proving Diogo’s level with the favored Portuguese surname.

Tributes have flooded in for Diogo and his brother following the tragic information. Diogo’s staff shared a press release which learn: “Liverpool Soccer Membership are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.

“The membership have been knowledgeable the 28-year-old has handed away following a street site visitors accident in Spain alongside along with his brother, Andre.

“Liverpool FC shall be making no additional remark at the moment and request the privateness of Diogo and Andre’s household, associates, teammates and membership employees is revered as they attempt to come to phrases with an unimaginable loss. We’ll proceed to offer them with our full help.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, who performed alongside Diogo for the Portugal nationwide staff and the pair received two Nations League titles collectively, additionally paid tribute on social media. He wrote: “It would not make sense. We had been simply collectively within the nationwide staff, and also you had simply gotten married.

“To your loved ones, your spouse and your kids, I ship my condolences and want all of them the energy within the world. I do know you’ll all the time be with them. Relaxation in peace, Diogo and Andre. We’ll all miss you.”