Diogo Jota Timeline

Diogo Jota 7

1996 Diogo Jota born in Porto Diogo Jose Teixeira da Silva was born on 4 December 1996 in Massarelos, Porto, Portugal. He grew up in Gondomar, a small town near Porto, alongside his younger brother Andre, who also became a professional footballer. He joined the Pacos de Ferreira youth academy as a teenager.
2014 – 2016 Pacos de Ferreira and Porto Jota made his senior debut for Pacos de Ferreira in the Portuguese second division before being signed by FC Porto. He spent one season at Porto's first team before being loaned to Atletico Madrid, where opportunities were limited. His career needed a move that would give him regular football.
2017 – 2020 Wolverhampton Wanderers -- breakthrough in England In 2017, Jota moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers, initially on loan from Atletico Madrid before a permanent transfer. Under manager Nuno Espirito Santo, he became a key player as Wolves won promotion to the Premier League and established themselves in the top flight. He scored 44 goals in 131 appearances across three seasons, earning a reputation as one of the most exciting young forwards in English football.
2019 – 2025 Portugal -- 49 caps and two Nations League titles Jota earned 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 goals. He was part of the squad that won the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019 and won the tournament again in June 2025, defeating Spain in the final just weeks before his death. His partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes made Portugal one of the strongest teams in European football.
2020 – 2025 Liverpool -- Premier League champion Liverpool signed Jota in September 2020 for 45 million pounds. He made an immediate impact, forming a devastating attack alongside Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and later Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo. He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club, winning the League Cup and FA Cup in 2021-22 and the Premier League title in 2024-25 under manager Arne Slot. His intelligent positioning and selfless running made him a fans favourite at Anfield.
2025 Wedding to Rute Cardoso -- 22 June 2025 On 22 June 2025, Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in a ceremony in Porto. He described himself as 'the luckiest man in the world' in his final Instagram post, sharing photographs from the celebration. The couple had three young children together: Dinis (aged four), Duarte (aged two) and a baby daughter born in November 2024.
2025 Diogo Jota dies in Spain On 3 July 2025, eleven days after his wedding, Jota and his 26-year-old brother Andre Silva were killed when their Lamborghini veered off the A-52 highway near Palacios de Sanabria in the province of Zamora, Spain, after a suspected tyre blowout. The car caught fire and both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Liverpool said the club was 'devastated'. Cristiano Ronaldo said: 'It doesn't make sense.' His funeral in Gondomar was attended by Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, manager Arne Slot and teammates past and present. During the 2026 World Cup, Portugal carried his number 21 shirt as a permanent tribute.