Ruben Neves played for Portugal in Diogo Jota's shirt: a touching tribute.

Neves honors Jota in World Cup qualifying match

According to The Sun: Ruben Neves paid his respects to Diogo Jota during Portugal's World Cup qualifying match against Armenia.

The footballer changed the number on his shirt to 21, which previously belonged to Jota when he represented the national team.

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Unfortunately, Jota tragically passed away in July in a car accident while traveling through Zamora, Spain, with his brother Andre.

This was Portugal's first match since the team last played, and it took place today in Yerevan, Armenia.

Neves, a former teammate of Jota at Wolverhampton, decided to honor his friend's memory by wearing number 21.

They played together for the national team, recently winning the UEFA Nations League. Both players were also part of Wolverhampton, which was promoted to the Premier League in 2018.

Fans also showed their support and honored Jota in the stands of Vazgen Sargsyan Stadium, displaying banners in his honor.

Before the game, athletes paid tribute to Jota with a minute of silence. Many Portuguese players were unable to hold back tears as they remembered their former teammate.

Neves expressed his love for Jota by getting a tattoo of their joint photo on his leg.

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After Jota's tragedy, the football world united to express condolences. Among those who honored him were stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Liverpool manager Arne Slot, and former player Phil Thomas.

'Liverpool' made a touching decision to retire the number 20, which Jota wore at the club. A mural featuring his image also appeared in Liverpool, honoring his memory.

Reuters Both players played together at Wolverhampton and helped the club gain promotion AP AP Reuters

Jota played for 'Liverpool' and 'Wolverhampton' in the Premier League, winning numerous trophies including Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and the League Cup. Additionally, he won the Nations League twice with Portugal.

Last season, Liverpool had the opportunity to play in the Super Cup against 'Crystal Palace'. Before the start of the season, both teams honored Jota's memory.

Liverpool legend Ian Rush, FA Chair Debbie Hewitt, and Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish laid wreaths on the field while fans performed a touching version of the song 'You’ll Never Walk Alone'.

A minute of silence was also observed before the match in honor of Jota and his brother Andre.

Diogo Jota left a bright mark on football, and his memory continues to live on in the hearts of fans and colleagues. The tragic death of this talented player has been a great blow to the sports world, but his achievements and spirit will always remain with us. The tributes organized by colleagues and fans testify to how significant he was to the team and the football community.