The final time I had the pleasure of dealing with Diogo Jota was in the bowels of Munich’s Allianz Arena a few weeks ago for the Nations League finals, which Portugal won.
He was walking with his nation’s greatest son Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva and was asked for an interview by a couple of us reporters. He stretched out his palms and gave a look to say: ‘Why would you want to speak to me?’
That was Diogo Jota.
Another scene was just under a year ago in America. I sat down with the forward for an interview about how he was inspired by a trip to the famous Rocky Steps in Philadelphia and how he was hoping to make the upcoming season his year.
As I left the beautifully air-conditioned room in the Four Seasons hotel the Reds were staying at, the main thought was that, save for the tracksuit and fresh smell all footballers have, there were few indications this was a top-level sportsman sitting across the table.
That was Diogo Jota.
A genuine, down-to-earth chap, a gentleman. No ego, no thinking he was God’s gift, no indication he was irked by spending his time doing yet another media duty on a jam-packed tour of the United States.
Inside, of course, he may have been itching to get back to his PlayStation or to FaceTime his fiance – now wife – and kids. He wasn’t one to go out partying, more a family man who loved relaxing with those close to him and playing FIFA online with his mates.
When a former Wolves staff member was being interviewed for a role in Liverpool’s media team late last year, Jota – who made his name at the Midlands club – made a point of vouching for his old colleague with a glowing reference that helped him get the job.
A year earlier, when team-mate Luis Diaz was going through a horrendous ordeal off the pitch – his father, Luis Manuel, was kidnapped in their hometown of Barrancas, Colombia – it was Jota’s idea to hold up a ‘Diaz 7’ jersey when Liverpool went 1-0 up.
That was Diogo Jota. Thoughtful, kind, a team player. Everyone in the dressing room loved him, used to banter him for never knowing the songs put on the playlist by DJ Virgil van Dijk or Andy Robertson. He had an infectious smile that lit up a room.
When one young fan was struggling in 2021, Jota opted to record a video of himself sending his best wishes and advice to help the kid. It was his own decision to send the clip. Just a minute out of Jota’s busy schedule helped to make the day of one kid.
He was a believer in equal rights for sports stars and made a point of showing up to events about women’s football and getting girls into the game.
On International Women’s Day last year he spoke passionately about the women who raised him and spoke of how he wanted his daughter to take inspiration from the likes of tennis legend Serena Williams.
On a personal level, I resonated with Jota whenever we spoke because he was just a few weeks older than me. Like me and millions of other boys and girls around the world, he had a life goal to be a footballer. He achieved and surpassed all of his dreams.
It is easy in moments like this to say that the sporting side does not matter but the fact he was a footballer, living out the dreams of so many, is why there is grief spread across the planet today for a man that 99 per cent of mourners did not know personally.
He was a supremely gifted footballer and would have scored more than the 147 goals for club and country if not for a number of injuries. He was the most clinical forward at Liverpool and his final goal, a thunderous strike in the Merseyside Derby, was a typical Jota finish. Fox in the box.
Jota was a hard-working trainer who always gave 100 per cent but football was just the day job for him given his love for gaming. He would often play against fans on FIFA and took Telford United to the Premier League in one of his Football Manager careers.
This hobby became a side-hustle when he launched his own eSports business where gamers would play video games professionally for his Luna Galaxy empire named after one of his dogs Luna.
In the latest accounts, they had won more than £400,000 in prize money and in 2021, he was the world No 1 FIFA player.
Before Thursday, he had enjoyed the happiest six weeks of his life.
He won the Premier League and said at the time: ‘To arrive at this particular season with the title that I’ve been chasing for a lot of years and in the best league in the world – for me where I dreamed to play as a kid – it’s a moment I will cherish forever.
‘It is a remarkable achievement for a small guy that came from Gondomar, where I had this dream. To arrive at this moment was outstanding.’
Then he won the Nations League with Portugal and danced with their fans in Munich.
And then in his down-time after a long season, he married his childhood sweetheart Rute alongside his three young children just 11 days ago. His final post online was about that day, with the words: ‘Yes, for ever’.
So to use his words: yes, for ever he will be remembered by those who loved him and those who idolised him as football fans. Now Liverpool fans must make sure his memory is never erased, his chant always sung and his legacy always remembered.
