Liverpool FC has permanently retired the No. 20 shirt worn by Diogo Jota, extending the ban to its women’s teams and academy sides after consulting the Portuguese forward’s family. It is the first time the club has withdrawn a squad number, a step chief executive Michael Edwards described as “a unique tribute to a unique person.” Jota, 28, and his younger brother André Silva, 25, were killed on 3 July when their Lamborghini left the A52 motorway near Zamora in north-west Spain and caught fire. Jota, who joined Liverpool in 2020, helped the club win last season’s Premier League title, an FA Cup and two League Cups, and twice lifted the UEFA Nations League with Portugal. The Reds played their first match since the tragedy on 13 July, defeating Preston North End 3–1 in a pre-season friendly at Deepdale that was dominated by tributes. Both teams wore black armbands, Preston captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath before kickoff and the crowd observed a minute’s silence followed by “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Supporters applauded in the 20th minute and goalscorers Conor Bradley, Darwin Núñez and Cody Gakpo mimicked Jota’s celebration. “I take comfort in knowing that in the last month of his life he was a champion in everything,” manager Arne Slot said.