From Gondomar's youth ranks to the pinnacle of Europe: remembering Diogo Jota's career | OneFootball

The death of Diogo Jota in the early hours of Thursday has sent shockwaves through the footballing world. The 28-year-old Liverpool forward, along with his 25-year-old brother André Silva, tragically lost their lives in a car accident in Spain.

Having represented Portugal 49 times at senior level, Jota began his footballing journey with Gondomar SC. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he went on to play for Paços de Ferreira, FC Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and ultimately Liverpool, where he enjoyed some of the finest moments of his footballing life.

His was a story of resilience and achievement, starting in the youth ranks of Gondomar and rising all the way to the elite stage of European football. At Liverpool, he became a key figure in unforgettable matches and historic triumphs. Along the way, he carved out countless victories and left a lasting mark on every club he played for.

From humble beginnings in Gondomar to the heights of European glory, join Playmakerstats as we look back at the remarkable career of Diogo Jota - a tribute to a player who inspired so many.

First steps in Gondomar

Born on 4 December 1996 in Porto, Diogo Jota developed a deep love for football from a young age. His passion for the game came naturally, passed down from his father and maternal grandfather, both of whom had strong ties to the world of sport.

"Diogo only saw that [the football] in front of him. In his grandmother's backyard, he broke many pots and plants. It was a space three meters by fifteen. He spent a lot of his free time there," revealed Joaquim Silva, the Diogo and André father, in an interview with MaisFutebol in 2020.

Diogo Jota began his journey as a young footballer at the age of seven, joining the youth academy at Gondomar. He progressed steadily through the club's development system - from the under-11s to the under-19s - consistently making his mark at every level he played.

Such was his impact that, in 2020, Gondomar chose to rename their academy the 'Academia Diogo Jota' - a heartfelt tribute from the club that gave him his first steps in the world of football.

During the 2012/13 season, Jota’s talent truly began to shine. He scored an astonishing 33 goals in just 26 appearances for Gondomar’s under-17 side, a feat that turned heads across the country. No opponent seemed able to contain his instinct for goal and at just 16, he earned a move to Paços de Ferreira.

Dream debut for Paços de Ferreira

After featuring in 15 games for Paços de Ferreira’s under-19s, during which he scored 16 goals, Diogo Jota made his professional debut in the 2014/15 season. On 19 October 2014, the young forward was handed his first senior appearance by Paulo Fonseca in the Portuguese Cup, coming on in a 4-0 victory over Atlético Reguengos.

Any nerves Jota may have had were quickly forgotten, as he justified the faith shown in him by the Portuguese coach. On the 60th minute of his debut, he scored his first goal for Paços de Ferreira. The early signs were promising, and he soon earned a permanent place in the first team. That season, he featured in 12 matches, starting in four of the final five games and contributed four goals and two assists.

The following season, 2015/16, marked Jota’s first full campaign with the side known as the Beavers. Notably, in the opening match, the Porto-born forward was shown a red card in injury time. Despite this setback, neither his determination nor the manager Jorge Simão’s trust in him wavered.

A regular figure in the starting lineup under the Portuguese coach, wearing the number 18 shirt, Jota featured in 35 matches during the season, scoring 14 goals and providing five assists - impressive figures considering his young age.

His performances caught the attention of several major European clubs, with Atlético Madrid moving swiftly to secure his signature for their youth setup. The transfer fee, reported to be around seven million euros, enabled Paços de Ferreira to fund the construction of a new stand - a lasting tribute forever linked to Jota’s name.

However, the Portuguese forward did not make any first-team appearances for the Spanish side.

From the debut at FC Porto to the dream of the Premier League

Although he had been signed by Atlético Madrid, as mentioned earlier, Jota soon returned to Portugal on loan to reinforce FC Porto. Initially deployed as a secret weapon off the bench, the forward required just four appearances to cement his place in the starting eleven.

In his first start, during FC Porto’s always challenging trip to Estádio da Madeira, Diogo Jota wasted no time in making an impact, scoring a hat-trick. It was a dream debut that quickly won over the Portista supporters.

Under the management of Nuno Espírito Santo, Jota featured in 38 matches for the Blues during the 2016/17 season, tallying nine goals and four assists. However, despite these solid performances, he was unable to convince Diego Simeone to give him a chance at Atlético Madrid.

Jota then made the move to England, but he wasn’t alone. The forward followed Nuno Espírito Santo, who had taken the managerial reins at Wolverhampton Wanderers, a club competing in the Championship at the time. Though it may have seemed a risky step, it proved to be a highly rewarding decision for the Portuguese international, who quickly established himself in English football.

A guaranteed starter in Wolves’ attacking line-up, Diogo Jota played a pivotal role in the club’s campaign in England’s second tier, scoring 18 goals and providing five assists in 46 appearances. His contributions helped Wolves clinch the Championship title and secure promotion to the much-coveted Premier League.

A fan favourite throughout his time at Molineux, the Portuguese international made his move permanent and went on to spend three seasons with the club. After 131 appearances and 44 goals, he bid an emotional farewell to the first club he represented outside Portugal, before making a big-money transfer to Liverpool for €45 million - the move where he ultimately rose to stardom.

'He cuts inside and scores for LFC'

Diogo Jota then continued his career in England, swapping the yellow of Wolverhampton for the red of Liverpool.

Naturally, expectations were high, but Jota rose to the challenge without hesitation, scoring seven goals in his first 499 minutes on the pitch. In fact, his first goal for the Reds came against Arsenal late in the game - an excellent introduction to the home fans.

In this way, Jota quickly established himself in Liverpool’s attacking line-up alongside Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and occasionally Roberto Firmino, winning the hearts of the club’s supporters almost immediately. The passion and admiration for the Portuguese forward even inspired a chant, sung repeatedly around Anfield Road in support of the international.

The player, who began his journey at Gondomar SC, spent five seasons with the Reds, making 182 appearances. During this time, he made a positive impact on numerous occasions, scoring 65 goals and providing 22 assists.

Despite suffering from some injuries in recent seasons - particularly over the last two - Jota never gave up and always managed to bounce back. In the 2024/25 season, which would sadly be his last, he took part in 37 matches and ended the campaign celebrating winning the Premier League, the first league title of his career.

A Key Figure in Portugal’s Golden Era

On the international stage, Diogo Jota earned 30 caps at youth level for Portugal, as well as 49 for the senior team. In total, he played 4,091 minutes for the national side, scoring 28 goals - 14 for the youth teams and 14 for the senior squad.

He featured in the European Championships of 2020 and 2024, and was part of the Portugal squads that won the UEFA Nations League twice, in 2019 and 2025.

In 2022, an injury ruled him out of the World Cup in Qatar, a notable absence for manager Fernando Santos.

Jota’s final appearance for Portugal came on 8 June 2025, in the Nations League final against Spain. It was a tense and closely contested match for fans of both sides, but ultimately, the Portuguese emerged victorious.