Liverpool Retires No. 20 Jersey in Honor of Diogo Jota

From now on, the number 20 jersey at Liverpool will belong to just one man — Diogo Jota. In a powerful and symbolic gesture, the club has announced the permanent retirement of the shirt number following Jota’s tragic death in a car accident.

Official statement from Liverpool FC:

"The No. 20 shirt will rightfully be immortalized for Jota’s decisive role in securing Liverpool’s 20th Premier league title in the 2024/2025 season — thanks to his trademark dribble and finish in front of the Kop that sealed the victory in the April Merseyside Derby. That goal turned out to be the last of his life."

Jersey retirements in football are rare but deeply emotional moments, often tied to stories of loss or unmatched greatness. And Jota’s case now becomes a poignant addition to this legacy.

Tragedies That Led to Retired Numbers

Jota’s story isn’t the first of its kind. In 2018, Fiorentina defender and Italy international Davide Astori passed away in his sleep due to cardiac arrhythmia. He was just 31. A product of AC Milan’s academy, Astori made a name for himself at Cagliari before joining Fiorentina in 2016, where he quickly became a leader on and off the pitch. His sudden death on March 4 shocked the nation. Shortly after, both Fiorentina and Cagliari retired his number 13 shirt — with Cagliari even asking a current player to switch numbers to do so.

Another heartbreaking example comes from Romania. During a friendly match between Dinamo Bucharest and Santierul, rising star Catalin Hildan collapsed unconscious on the pitch. Just 24 at the time, he had already captained Dinamo and earned a national team call-up. Despite efforts to save him, Hildan passed away in the hospital due to cardiac arrest. Dinamo retired his number 11 jersey and even named the stadium’s north stand in his honor.

Spain, too, mourned a young talent in 2009. Espanyol’s Dani Jarque was found unconscious in Florence while on pre-season duty with the team. He reportedly collapsed during a phone call, and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The loss devastated the footballing world. A year later, Andrés Iniesta celebrated his World Cup final goal by revealing a shirt that read: “Dani Jarque, siempre con nosotros” ("Dani Jarque, always with us"). Espanyol retired his number 21 — though years later, it was brought back, but only to be worn by youth academy graduates who had earned a place in the senior squad.

Sometimes It’s About Greatness, Too

Not all retired numbers are tied to tragedy. Some are tributes to pure brilliance. In 2000, Napoli retired the iconic number 10 to honor Diego Maradona’s legendary impact on the club. Since then, there’s been endless debate among fans: should the number be revived for modern stars like Marek Hamsik, Lorenzo Insigne, or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia? Even Maradona himself was open to it. But the club has consistently refused. In Naples, after all, there’s only one god.

A similar story played out at Santos, where the number 10 was long associated with Pelé. Though the shirt was unofficially retired for years, it was eventually brought back — reportedly at Pelé’s own request before his death. He believed fans should continue seeing the iconic number worn on the field. Neymar was one of the most prominent to wear it after its return.

Meanwhile, Ajax continues to honor their greatest legend, Johan Cruyff, by keeping his number 14 retired. Though he played 12 seasons and won countless trophies with the club, the number was officially retired only in 2007 — on Cruyff’s 60th birthday.

Brescia offered a beautiful gesture by retiring the number 10 for Roberto Baggio. Although he joined the club in the twilight of his career, Baggio’s presence left a lasting impact. Sadly, Brescia no longer exists as a club, making the tribute even more symbolic.

Italy, in fact, has a deep tradition of retiring numbers. AC Milan retired the number 3 jersey for both Cesare and Paolo Maldini, icons of the club. It was hoped that Paolo’s son, Daniel, would one day inherit the shirt — but his time at the club was short-lived, and he preferred different numbers. Meanwhile, Milan’s number 6 remains eternally reserved for Franco Baresi.

Published by Patrick Jane
08.07.2025