The football world continues to mourn Diogo Jota after the Liverpool forward died in a car accident on Thursday morning.

It was as sobering a day there as ever has been in the footballing community, as teammates, rivals and fans tried to process the loss of someone so young.

At 28, Jota should still have been at the top of his game for Liverpool.



He had recently married his childhood sweetheart, Rute, and was father to three young children.

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That he and his brother were both taken in the same tragic moment has been impossible to bear for those who didn’t know him personally, let alone those that did.

As his former captain at Liverpool, Jordan Henderson certainly got to know Jota well across three seasons spent together at Anfield.

And after no doubt struggling to come to terms with what happened throughout the day, Henderson paid tribute to the No.

20 late on Thursday evening.

Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images

The fact that Jota will not be reporting for pre-season along with his teammates next Tuesday becomes more heart-breaking as time continues to pass.

Liverpool players have been steadily paying tribute to Jota when they should instead have been getting ready to hug him and laugh with him at training.

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Having left two years ago, Henderson would not have been amongst that group.

But as his statement on Instagram shows, the former captain is still very much a Liverpool player in spirit.

“I really can’t believe what has happened today and all I can think about is Diogo and Andre’s family,” says Henderson.

All of our prayers, love and support are with you now and forever.”

READ MORE: Diogo Jota: Remembering a hugely talented footballer but an even better human being 

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“Jots it was a pleasure to share a pitch with you but more importantly a friendship.

YNWA.”

Throughout the majority of Jota’s time with the club, his captain and vice-captain were the dynamic duo of Henderson and James Milner.

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And while the former gives a little mention of his old number two in his tribute to Jota, Milner also inserted some warming anecdotes into his own post earlier in the day.

“Devastated for the loss of Diogo and Andre,” said the Brighton midfielder.