Darwin Nunez Honors Teammate Diogo Jota with Celebrations After Scoring in Friendly Match

Darwin Nunez paid a heartfelt tribute to his Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota by performing two of Jota’s signature celebrations after scoring during a pre-season friendly against Preston.

Liverpool’s first match since Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 25, tragically died in a car accident in Spain on July 3 was marked by emotional commemorations. Various tributes included a poignant minute’s silence at Deepdale, where both teams observed respect for the players who had been central to Liverpool’s squad.

Prior to kick-off, the club’s anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” was sung, and Preston’s captain carried a wreath to honor Jota and Silva. Players from both sides wore black armbands, and screens displayed tributes to the fallen players. A commemorative 16-page program featured a black-and-white image of Jota holding the Premier League trophy, along with merchandise like scarves and flags bearing his name.

In the match, Conor Bradley netted for Liverpool in the 33rd minute, followed by Nunez’s goal in the 53rd minute, which gave Liverpool a 2-0 lead. After scoring, Nunez celebrated by mimicking Jota’s PlayStation-themed celebration, also pointing skyward as a tribute. The celebration mirrored moments from previous games, including Jota’s celebrations with Nunez and his passion for playing FIFA, which led him to establish an eSports company initially called Diogo Jota eSports, later renamed Luna Galaxy after his pet.

Jota, who joined Liverpool in 2020, made 182 appearances, scoring 65 goals and providing 26 assists. His legacy continues to be honored by fans and teammates alike, reaffirmed by these emotional demonstrations and Liverpool’s decision to retire his shirt number. The match served as a fitting tribute to a player deeply loved and respected both on and off the field.