Liverpool striker Diogo Jota changed his name during his incredible career, and there’s a specific reason why he made the life-changing decision – and his brother didn’t
Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota opted to change his name during his incredible career, and there was a very specific reason behind his decision.
The Portuguese striker for Liverpool, who was instrumental in winning the Premier League earlier this year, has sadly died following a road traffic accident in Zamora, Spain, on Thursday morning. His younger brother and footballer, Andre, 26, also lost his life in the same accident.
Diogo’s tragic death comes just 11 days after he married his long-term girlfriend Rute Cardoso on 22 June during a stunning ceremony in Porto. The couple have three children, two sons and a daughter, who is their youngest, born in November 2024.
Throughout his impressive football career, he was known as Diogo Jota – but this isn’t his real surname. In fact, when he was born in Massarelos, Porto, on December 4, 1996, his parents, Joaquim and Isabel Silva, named him Diogo Jose Teixeira da Silva. So why did he change his name?
READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo’s heartbreaking tribute to Diogo Jota after tragic car crash death
It’s been reported that when Diogo was younger, he would request Diogo J to be printed on the back of his football shirt to help differentiate himself from others who bear the same name of Diogo or Silva. From there, he was affectionately known as Diogo Jose or Diogo J.
But why did he go by Jota instead of Jose? The name Jota is the Portuguese pronunciation of the letter J. Therefore, his name going forward professionally was Diogo Jota.
His younger brother, André Filipe Teixeira da Silva, who played as a midfielder for FC Penafiel, chose to keep the family name, going by André Silva. This led to some confusion with another footballer, RB Leipzig striker Andre Silva – proving Diogo’s point with the popular Portuguese surname.
Tributes have flooded in for Diogo and his brother following the tragic news. Diogo’s team shared a statement which read: “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
“The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.
“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, who played alongside Diogo for the Portugal national team and the pair won two Nations League titles together, also paid tribute on social media. He wrote: “It doesn’t make sense. We were just together in the national team, and you had just gotten married.
“To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”