If you don’t follow football but you’re wondering why the torrent of tributes to Diogo Jota has been so relentless, here are some of the reasons.

Yes, the Liverpool footballer was an outstanding, versatile player, arguably the best finisher in the English champions’ squad on his day.

Yes, he lifted everything there was to win during his five years at Anfield.

And yes, he scored crucial goals last season to help them to win the title, including the winner - his last ever goal - in the Merseyside derby against Everton in April.

Diogo Jota played football with joy and an utter absence of spite - it made him stand out in the hurly-burly of the modern game, writes OLIVER HOLT	Diogo Jota loved so much more than football - this is such a heartbreaking tragedy	Diogo Jota: The wonderful footballer who created magic Liverpool moments and was loved by teammates

But he was also low maintenance, high in the good energy that attracts kindred spirits and universal respect.

He wasn’t ever pictured falling out of nightclubs, engaging in unseemly Twitter/X controversies or involved in the pantomime, Baller League-type flare ups we see on Instagram.

Jota, the man, was summed up by the pictures that have so dominated the news agenda over the past 24 hours.

The location on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora, Spain, where Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died.

A guy who was still paying to play for his local club Gondomar at the age of 16, an age when some talented players in England are already pushing for a place in Premier League teams.

He was a footballer whose lack of malice, hostility and animosity during matches came as a refreshing antidote to so many of the tiresome antics we see at the elite level of domestic and European football.

He was a father, a son, most recently a husband whose low key life away from the game was summed up by the fact that he was with his brother when the tragedy struck.

It doesn’t seem real to be talking about him in the past tense?

A man barely past the first few chapters of his life.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to suggest he was that rare breed - the kind of player you admired regardless of which team you support.

An army of top clubs and their fans had admired Jota and the 17 goals he'd scored to help Wolves into the Premier League as champions before Liverpool gazumped them all to sign him, five years ago.

How do the Premier League Champions now focus on football beyond this.

Diogo Jota, a UEFA Nations League winner with Portugal.

In May, he’d celebrated winning the Premier League title with Liverpool, he posted pictures all over his socials.

In June he helped Portugal to win the Nations League international tournament alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo.

And less than two weeks ago he was married
For more news relating to Everton, visit our sister site EFC Live.