The football world is today mourning the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.
Diogo Jota played for Wolves for three years, signing for the club in 2017 initially on loan from Atletico Madrid, before leaving to join Liverpool in the summer of 2020.
The Portuguese forward scored 44 goals and supplied 19 assists in 131 appearances for Wolves during his time at Molineux, and was adored by fans.
Jota was a class act for Wolves, and his versatility allowed him to shine anywhere across the front three.
He was a sight to behold at times with the way he could finish with both feet and constantly be in the right place to score goals, and Jota continued to wow fans when he moved to Anfield.
As the football community processes this enormous loss, Molineux News looks back on some of the best moments of this incredible player in a Wolves shirt.
- READ MORE: What Diogo Jota said after signing for Wolves which convinced teammates he was a ‘serious player’
Jota sends Wolves to Wembley after goal vs Man United in FA Cup quarter-final
Jota sparked wild scenes at Molineux in 2019 when he raced through to score Wolves’ second goal in a 2-1 win over Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-final.
He collected the ball in the centre circle and raced up the pitch, bamboozling Luke Shaw, before firing low and hard into the corner.
There was bedlam in the South Bank, with the goal sending Wolves to an FA Cup semi-final.
Hat-trick against Leicester
Molineux was treated to a classic in January 2019, with Jota scoring a hat-trick in a 4-3 victory for Wanderers against Leicester City.
Jota opened the scoring, ghosting in from the left side to turn home a Joao Moutinho cross.
He would score his second to make it 3-2 to Wolves, latching onto a sublime Ruben Neves pass before finishing on his left foot.
After Wes Morgan then equalised for Leicester, Jota would complete his hat-trick in injury-time to make it 4-3, slotting home after a ball across the box from his partner in crime Raul Jimenez.
Hat-trick vs Besiktas
Jota blew everyone away in 2019 when he scored a treble against Besiktas in a Europa group stage match.
He started on the bench but came on in the second half, and immediately set about wreaking havoc.
After just 72 seconds of being on the pitch, Jota nodded in to break the deadlock.
He got his second, showing predatory instincts to follow the ball in after Leander Dendoncker had struck the post.
After Dendoncker got Wolves’ third, Jota completed his hat-trick by tucking in Oskar Buur’s cross at the back post. That strike came just 11 minutes after his first.
Acrobatic finish vs Pyunik as Raul Jimenez partnership bears fruit
One of Jota’s finest moments in a Wolves shirt came when he scored in acrobatic fashion against Armenian outfit Pyunik in the Europa League.
Jota combined with Jimenez many times while the pair were at Wolves and the duo used to be major handfuls for defenders.
They just seemed to have a telepathic understanding, and against Pyunik they combined for a truly delicious goal.
Jimenez scooped the ball up over the top for Jota, who then produced an acrobatic finish into the corner. A genius finish, from a genius player.
Permanent Jota deal announcement
Jota initially signed on loan from Atletico Madrid, in a deal that was facilitated by Jorge Mendes.
The hope was that he would have the quality to help pull Wolves out of the Championship and back into the Premier League.
There was elation for fans in January 2018 when Wolves announced that they would be signing Jota on a permanent basis that summer.
Jota had become an instant hit at Molineux. At the time of Wolves announcing that they’d be signing him permanently, he had already scored 12 goals in 30 appearances, and Wolves were top of the league.
Kevin Thelwell said at the time (via Wolves official): “To secure his services on a permanent basis is a huge coup for the Club and I have no doubt that he will help us to achieve our goals both now and in the future.”
Diogo Jota is one of Wolves’ finest players of the modern era
There can be little doubt that Diogo Jota is one of the best players to wear the Wolves shirt in the club’s modern history.
The forward was the kind of player fans paid money to watch, and was so key in helping the team get out of the Championship and into the Premier League.
And once in the top-flight, his quality did not let up.
| Diogo Jota for Wolves (2017-2020) |
| Appearances – 131 |
| Goals – 44 |
| Assists – 19 |
He was a menace for defenders, and it was little surprise in the end that he earned a big money move to Liverpool, for whom he also shone.
Jota’s passing is truly a devastating loss for the football world, and he will never be forgotten. Tributes from Wolves players past and present have poured in for Jota, which just show what a remarkable player and person he really was.
Everyone at Molineux News extends their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre, and to everyone associated with Liverpool and all Jota’s former clubs.