The cluster of fatalities that led to Diogo Jota’s death: it all started with an unfortunate play

The cluster of fatalities that led to Diogo Jota’s death: it all started with an unfortunate play

The Portuguese player suffered a lung injury in October 2024 against Chelsea and was sidelined for a month and a half

The departure from this plane of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva was the end of a series of fatalities that could have begun on the afternoon of October 20, 2024 at Anfield.

That day, Liverpool hosted Chelsea and, just after the start of the match (6th minute), a long ball from the home team found the Londoners’ defence badly beaten and Diogo Jota had all the advantage to face Robert Sanchez’s goal on his own, but the quick action of Tosin Adarabioyo intercepted the Portuguese player, fouling him in the visitors’ half.

In the struggle and unintentionally, the Chelsea defender kneed Diogo Jota in the left lung area, causing him pain that ended with the Portuguese player asking to be substituted in the 30th minute. The play was very controversial because the referee did not send off Adarabioyo, which led to protests from the Liverpool players on the pitch.

After that injury, Diogo Jota was sidelined until December 13, missing six consecutive games due to the problem caused in the ribs and lung. The curious thing is that after returning to play he had 24 games ahead of him, of which he missed 11 due to injury.

In an interview with the Portuguese newspaper ‘Record’, Miguel Gonçalves, the player’s physiotherapist, explained the injury that Diogo Jota had: “The base of the right lung had collapsed a little and now it was practically perfect”.

The doctor, who had seen him until a few hours before he left, commented on the details of what the player would do afterwards: “On Monday, he had a medical appointment in Liverpool to assess the situation. I started working with him last Saturday and was with him every day until that Wednesday,” and added that he was not going to be part of Liverpool’s Asian tour to fully recover.

Asked about the injury he suffered against Chelsea, the physio commented that the decision to be treated at the end of the season was a decision made by the 20-year-old.

These days, Portugal and the football world, in general, has been mourning the death of Diogo Jota and his brother. In Gondomar, the funeral took place to say goodbye to both of them, and countless teammates and friends went there, apart from the family, of course. Almost the entire Liverpool team attended to pay tribute to the Portuguese, and we say almost everyone because one person was missing, Luis Diaz

The Colombian, who was a great friend of Diogo, was in Colombia fulfilling some agreements with sponsors and influencers. The ‘Guajiro’ player has been heavily criticised for the contrast between the sadness of his teammates and his immense joy, so much so that he has even been seen dancing while in Portugal they were crying.

The repercussions have been so strong that even in his own country he is being criticised. It should be remembered that Diogo Jota had been one of the main people who helped ‘Lucho’ when he arrived at Liverpool, according to Luis himself. When the Colombian winger’s father was kidnapped, the Portuguese showed his support after scoring by showing his shirt with his number and name. There were countless signs that there was a great friendship between them.

Farewell on social media

Luis Diaz did have the courtesy to say goodbye to Diogo Jota through his Instagram account, before the controversial meeting with streamers:

“I have no words… It hurts my soul. Not only for what he was on the pitch, but for the person he was off it.There are gestures that one never forgets, and Diogo had one with me that will stay with me for life.My embrace is with Rute, his three children and his family.

Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre