Rute Cardoso visited the tribute at Anfield (Image: getty)

The football world is in mourning as Rute Cardoso, the widow of the late Portuguese star Diogo Jota, visited a sea of floral tributes at Anfield on Friday.

The heartfelt memorial has grown significantly since Jota, aged 28, and his brother Andre Silva tragically died in a car crash in Spain last week.

In a touching gesture, Liverpool players, alongside head coach Arne Slot, paid their respects by each laying a single rose amid the tributes.

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Liverpool's key players, including Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo, joined manager Arne Slot in laying tributes outside Anfield, where fans have been gathering to honour the memory of the beloved player.

In a historic move for the club, it was announced on Friday that Jota's number 20 shirt will be retired by the Premier League champions, marking the first time such an honour has been granted in Liverpool's history.

Michael Edwards, FSG CEO of Football, released a statement saying: "As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters – and we felt exactly the same way," confirming the decision to retire Jota's shirt number was made with the full involvement of his wife Rute and his family.

Edwards added: "I believe this is the first time in Liverpool Football Club's history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual.

As far as Liverpool Football Club is concerned, he will be forever our number 20."

Liverpool players view tributes to Diogo Jota at Anfield (Image: gettyy)

Jota, aged 28, and his brother, Andre Silva, were killed in a car accident as Jota was returning to Merseyside for pre-season training.

The retirement of the shirt number will extend across all levels of the club, including the men's senior team, women's team, U21s, and academy teams, following discussions with Jota's wife, Rute, and their family.

The family and the club believe that this heartfelt tribute is an appropriate way to commemorate not only Jota's contributions on the pitch but also the profound effect he had on his colleagues, the staff, and fans alike.

Despite the sombre mood, Liverpool's fixture against Preston North End will go ahead as scheduled on Sunday, with coverage on ITV 1, as confirmed by Liverpool on Friday.

This match will mark the first since Jota's untimely death.

In remembrance, the Reds have detailed plans for the upcoming game: "Ahead of the 3pm BST kick-off, there will be a rendition of LFC anthem You'll Never Walk Alone and the home club will lay a wreath alongside the away supporters."

A minute's silence will be held in honour of Diogo and Andre, with digital tributes to be displayed on screens and pitchside LEDs at the match.

Players from both teams will don black armbands as a mark of respect, and Preston has produced a special edition of their matchday programme featuring written tributes to the brothers.

The Liverpool ace and his younger sibling were returning from Portugal after Jota tied the knot with his childhood sweetheart.

A wave of tributes has been placed at Anfield and Molineux, reflecting on Jota's time at Wolverhampton Wanderers from 2017 to 2020.

Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan, along with the club's executive team, visited the memorial site to pay their respects to Jota, hailed as an "incredible footballer and really good person".

In a heartfelt interview with LFC TV, Hogan expressed: "First, I would just say that obviously we're here today – and so many people have been here before – to just offer condolences and thoughts and prayers for Diogo and for Andre, and most importantly for their family."

He continued, "It has only been a couple of days but, as we all know, it has been just absolutely devastating.