In remembrance of Diogo Jota, Liverpool retires number 20. English clubs have retired 12 shirt numbers posthumously.

In honor of Diogo Jota, Liverpool has announced that the number 20 shirt will be retired permanently.

Tragically, the 28-year-old Portuguese forward and his 25-year-old younger brother, fellow professional football player Andre Silva, perished in an early-morning car accident on July 3, 2025.

Many Liverpool fans expressed their opinion on social media that Jota’s No. 20 shirt ought to be retired within hours of the devastating news being confirmed.

Following consultation with Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, and his family, the Reds have since affirmed that Jota “will forever be Liverpool’s number 20”.

The tribute is the first time the Reds have retired a player’s number in their 133-year history, and the retirement of No. 20 applies to all levels of the club, including the men’s and women’s first teams as well as all academy sides.

“As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt exactly the same way,” FSG CEO of Football, Michael Edwards, told Liverpool’s official website.

“It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo’s wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention.

“I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club’s history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person.

“By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal – and therefore never to be forgotten.

“Diogo joined us in 2020, he won us number 20, and he wore – with honour, distinction and affection – the number 20.

“As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20.”

List of English clubs’ posthumously retired shirt numbers

West Ham United is the only English team that has ever done it twice, and Liverpool is the eleventh English club to posthumously retire a shirt number.

Cardiff City: retired number seven in honor of midfielder Peter Whittingham, who passed away in March 2020 at the age of 35 following a traumatic head injury sustained while falling down stairs at a pub during a fictitious altercation with friends, according to the results of an inquest.

Exeter City: In remembrance of striker Adam Stansfield, who lost his fight with colorectal cancer in August 2010 at the age of 31, Exeter City retired No. 9.

Hartlepool United: In honor of midfielder Michael Maidens, who passed away in a traffic accident in October 2007 at the age of 20, Hartlepool United retired No. 25.

Liverpool: Retired No. 20 in memory of forward Diogo Jota, who died in a traffic accident in July 2025 at the age of 28.

Macclesfield Town: In honor of midfielder Richard Butcher, who passed away from a heart attack in January 2011 at the age of 29, Macclesfield Town retired No. 21.

Manchester City: retired number 23 in remembrance of midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe, who collapsed during Cameroon’s Confederations Cup semifinal match against Columbia and died in June 2003 at the age of 28 from an unidentified cardiac condition.

Millwall: In honor of goalie Matija Sarkic, who passed away from unexpected heart failure in June 2024 at the age of 26, Millwall retired No. 20.

Queens Park Rangers: In memory of striker Ray Jones, who died in August 2007 at Queens Park Rangers, the number 31 jersey was retired.

AFC Rushden and Diamonds: Retired No. 1 in honor of goalie Dale Roberts, who committed suicide in December 2010 at the age of 24.

West Ham United: 15 years after the death of legendary defender and World Cup-winning England captain Bobby Moore, who died in February 1993 at the age of 51 after a fight with bowel cancer, West Ham retired the number six shirt in his honor.

Additionally, West Ham retired number 38 in honor of Dylan Tombides, a striker who lost his fight with testicular cancer in April 2016 at the age of 20.

Wycombe Wanderers: In memory of midfielder Mark Philo, who died in a traffic accident in January 2006 at the age of 21, Wycombe Wanderers retired No. 14.