Overview
- Van Dijk posted a year-end message saying Diogo Jota was “more than just part of a football team” and that his loss “changed us forever.”
- He highlighted 2025 highs including Liverpool’s Premier League title, World Cup qualification, and his national-team captaincy record while wishing supporters well for 2026.
- Jota died on July 3, 2025 in a car crash in Portugal that also killed his brother, Andre Silva, with Liverpool players later attending the funeral in Gondomar.
- Liverpool have sustained tributes, with Jota’s sons Dinis and Duarte serving as mascots before the Wolves match and the club retiring his No. 20 shirt.
- Liverpool ended 2025 with a 2-1 win over Wolves to sit fourth in the league after an inconsistent start, with Leeds visiting Anfield on New Year’s Day.