This Sunday, when Pedro Neto takes the pitch, he’ll be thinking about Diogo Jota.
Image credit: The Touchline | Football Coverage
Chelsea winger Pedro Neto is playing with a heavy heart.
Ahead of the big Club World Cup final this Sunday, he shared an emotional tribute to his close friend and former teammate, Diogo Jota, who sadly passed away in a car accident.
A Sad Loss for Football
Diogo Jota, the talented Portuguese forward who played for Liverpool, died in a car crash in northern Spain on July 3, along with his brother, Andre Silva.
He was just 28 years old.
The news shook the football community — fans, players, and clubs around the world expressed their shock and sadness.
A Personal Message from Neto
In a heartfelt message posted on Chelsea’s website, Pedro Neto, 25, opened up about how much Jota meant to him — both on and off the pitch.
“When I step on the field this Sunday, I’m playing for Diogo. He’s always with me. I’ll never forget him.”
Neto and Jota became friends when they played together at Wolves. Back then, Neto had just arrived in England, and Jota helped him settle in.
“Diogo stood out right away. I was new, I was young, and he made things easier for me and my family. I learned so much from him — about football and life.”
Brothers in Football
Neto shared how the Portuguese players at Wolves — Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Rui Patricio, and others — formed a close bond.
Jota was a big part of that family-like group.
“We were always together, even off the pitch. That time in our lives is something I’ll always cherish. That’s why losing Diogo hurts so much.”
After Jota moved to Liverpool, the two still played together on the Portugal national team, even winning the Nations League final against Spain on June 8 — just weeks before the accident.
Playing for Diogo
Even though Neto is grieving, he says playing football has helped — and he believes Jota would’ve wanted him to keep going.
“He was a fighter, and he had this amazing smile. That’s what I’ll always remember. I feel like he’s still watching over us.”
“I want to be strong for him. Sunday’s final means a lot. I want to win it — for Diogo.”
Neto will line up for Chelsea in the Club World Cup final against PSG in New Jersey.
It’s his second final with the team, and this time, he has an even deeper reason to fight for victory.
Liverpool’s Beautiful Tribute
Meanwhile, Liverpool has done something incredibly special.
To honor Diogo Jota, they’ve announced they’ll retire his shirt number — 20 — across all their teams. No player will wear it again.
Jota wore that number with pride during his five years at Anfield, scoring 65 goals and helping Liverpool win major trophies.
Michael Edwards, the club’s CEO of football, said:
“We knew how much Diogo meant to the fans — and we felt it too. We made sure to involve his wife, Rute, and his family in the decision.”
“This is the first time in Liverpool’s history we’ve retired a shirt number. Diogo was a special player and an even more special person.”
“He’ll always be our number 20.”
Final Thoughts
This Sunday, when Pedro Neto takes the pitch, he won’t just be thinking about the trophy — he’ll be thinking about Diogo Jota.
A friend, a teammate, a brother in football.
And no matter who lifts the cup, one thing’s for sure: Diogo will never be forgotten.