Portugal have paid a touching tribute to Diogo Jota after passing his number 21 shirt to his long-time friend and former team-mate Ruben Neves.
Liverpool forward Jota tragically died at the age of 28 alongside his brother Andre Silva, 25, after a car crash in northern Spain in July.
He had married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, just 11 days before the incident, which took place while he was driving back to the UK for pre-season.
Neves, who played with Jota at Wolves and is currently on the books at Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, was one of the pallbearers at last month’s funeral.
‘The number 21 jersey will go to Ruben Neves because, that way, that number will remain on the field and with all of us,’ said Portugal manager Roberto Martinez.
‘He had a very close relationship with Diogo and is the ideal person to represent him.’
Diogo Jota’s shirt number for Portugal has been passed on to his close friend Ruben Neves
Neves was a pallbearer at the funeral of Jota and his brother Andre Silva
He also supported Jota’s wife Rute Cardoso during a Wolves match earlier this month
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Portugal will play their first fixtures after Jota’s passing and Martinez yesterday named his squad for World Cup qualifiers against Armenia and Hungary.
Jota’s last international appearance came in his side’s victory over Spain in the Nations League final in June, coming on as a substitute in extra time.
Martinez added: ‘We know what Diogo meant to each of us and the impact he had on our lives. We want to honour his memory every day. He will be with us and will be another force helping us achieve our goals. Diogo’s example is a light for us.
‘We will carry his spirit in our hearts.
‘Diogo’s absence is a factor of unity, motivation and responsibility, because Diogo wanted to win the World Cup. We are here to fight and achieve that dream.’
Neves wrote an emotional tribute on Instagram after Jota’s death.
‘When I go to the national team, you’ll still be by my side at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane… you’ll always be there with me, as usual,’ he wrote.
‘We’ll keep laughing, making plans, sharing our lives with each other.’
Jota had worn the No 20 shirt for Liverpool and the club made the decision to retire the jersey across every level after consulting with his wife and his parents, Isabel and Joaquim.
