EA Sports makes Diogo Jota tribute following Liverpool forward's tragic death

EA Sports has paid tribute to Diogo Jota following the death of the Liverpool forward and his brother, Andre Silva.

The 28-year-old tragically died in a car crash alongside his brother in the Spanish province of Zamora in the early hours of Thursday morning, and since then, tributes have been pouring in for the Liverpool footballer from all over the world. Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp have posted emotional tributes on social media, and so have EA Sports, the developers of the popular EA Sports FC and FIFA game series.

As well as being a brilliant player on the pitch, Jota was a gem off the pitch, and his passion for gaming, football games like EA Sports FC in particular, was clear for all to see. The 28-year-old had partnered up with EA multiple times over the last few years to help promote Ultimate Team promos while also boosting the EA Sports FC Pro scene by for the pro tournaments.

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EA Sports pays tribute to Diogo Jota

In a statement on its @EASPORTSFC Twitter, EA : "We are heartbroken by the news of Diogo Jota’s passing.

"Diogo was not only an exceptional footballer, but also a true friend and talented member of the FC family whose abilities were renowned amongst the community. Our thoughts are with his family, his teammates, and all who knew him. Rest in peace, Diogo."

Jota has a history in the FUT community of being one of the best players of the game, finishing one FUT Champions Weekend League in FIFA 21 as the number one ranked player in the world. He was also crowned the winner of the FIFA 22 Challenge Champions, where the forward and Manchester City Esports player, Tekkz, teamed up to win the competition.

In 2021, the forward first showcased his famous 'gamer' celebration when he scored a brace in a 3-0 win over Southampton, but he most famously performed the celebration when he scored the last-minute winner in a 4-3 victory over Tottenham in 2023. In the build-up to the win over Southampton, Jota was competing in qualifiers for the FIFA 22 Global Series, but the forward was forced to quit one of his games early to ensure he made it in time for Liverpool's game.

"Good Luck!" messaged Jota to his opponent at 1:23 BST, just one hour and 37 minutes before the Reds were due to kick off against the Saints. Jota's opponent before kick-off, and as word got out, Jota opted to perform his 'gamer' celebration, which is currently his default celebration in EA FC 25.

Jota also owned his own Esports team, Luna Esports, which is named after one of his dogs. In fact, the 28-year-old was so obsessed with gaming that his job title in his Instagram bio is gamer instead of footballer.

Jota's death is a huge loss to the footballing world and gaming and Esports. The 28-year-old was one of the few footballers who treated gaming and Esports as more than just a hobby. Rest in peace, Diogo.