Forever 20 Tribute
Liverpool Unveils Permanent 'Forever 20' Memorial at Anfield for Diogo Jota and Andre Silva
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Key Points
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The memorial's back inscription includes a dedication line: 'Forever 20' with 'YNWA' beneath it and the phrase 'He will take us to victory. Oh, his name is Diogo.'
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The central heart sculpture incorporates lyrics to Jota’s Liverpool chant, aligned with Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Bad Moon Rising' – the same song associated with the 20-minute chant at home games.
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The plinth beneath the sculpture is laser-engraved with dedications to both brothers and uses stone sourced from Gondomar in Portugal.
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The base itself sits on a Granby Rock-faced stone plinth, a distinctive element of the memorial’s pedestal.
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The crash context and Jota’s Liverpool contributions are noted: the brothers died July 3, 2025 near Zamora in northwestern Spain when their Lamborghini left the road; Jota had scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool and helped secure the 2024-25 Premier League title.
Liverpool unveiled a permanent memorial called Forever 20 outside Anfield on Wednesday, one day before the first anniversary of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva's deaths. ITV reported that the installation, created by sculptor Emma Rodgers, sits on 97 Avenue near the Main Stand and will serve as a lasting site for fans to reflect and pay their respects.
Jota, 28, and Silva, 25, died on July 3, 2025, when their Lamborghini left the road near Zamora in northwestern Spain. Jota had scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool and helped the club win the 2024–25 Premier League title before the crash.
A Heart Sculpture That Hides Two Numbers
The centerpiece of the memorial is a flowing heart sculpture. GB News noted that when viewed from different angles, the heart reveals the numbers 20 and 30 — Jota's and Silva's shirt numbers. The design was made by Emma Rodgers, a sculptor known for creating football memorials across the UK.
The back of the sculpture carries the inscription 'Forever 20' with 'YNWA' — short for You'll Never Walk Alone — beneath it. It also features the line: 'He will take us to victory. Oh, his name is Diogo.' That phrase comes from Jota's Liverpool chant, set to Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Bad Moon Rising,' the song fans sang for 20 straight minutes at home games.
Fan Tributes Embedded Directly Into the Memorial
Liverpool wanted the memorial to carry the voices of supporters. Scarves and shirts left by fans after the brothers' deaths are embedded in wax inside the sculpture and along the plinth. A bronze cast of a real flower placed by a fan is also part of the design, ITV reported.
Two personal touches stand out beyond the tributes. A bronze PlayStation controller is cast into the memorial, a nod to Jota's well-known love of gaming. The stone plinth beneath the sculpture was sourced from Gondomar in Portugal — the region where the brothers grew up — and is laser-engraved with dedications to both men.
Number 20 Retired as Liverpool Marks One Year
Liverpool retired Jota's number 20 ahead of the 2025–26 season. No player will wear it again, according to Head Topics. The club said the decision was made to honor his impact on the team and the fans who loved him.
The memorial sits close to where thousands of fans left flowers, scarves, and banners in the days after the crash last July. Liverpool said in a statement that Forever 20 is meant to be a permanent symbol of love, unity, and remembrance for anyone who wants to visit Anfield and feel close to the brothers.
A Crash That Shocked Football Around the World
The brothers died near Zamora in northwestern Spain on July 3, 2025. Their Lamborghini left the road in an accident that drew an outpouring of grief from clubs, players, and fans worldwide. Macon reported that tributes poured in from across the globe in the days that followed.
Jota had been one of Liverpool's key attackers. His 65 goals in 182 games helped drive the club's 2024–25 Premier League title run. Silva, five years younger, was his closest companion. The Forever 20 memorial ensures neither brother is forgotten at the ground Jota called home.
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