Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Diogo Jota, who has sadly passed away at age 28, changed his name for his football career(Image: PA Wire)

Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota opted to change his name during his incredible career, and there was a very specific reason behind his decision.

The Portuguese striker for Liverpool, who was instrumental in winning the Premier League earlier this year, has sadly died following a road traffic accident in Zamora, Spain, on Thursday morning.

His younger brother and footballer, Andre, 26, also lost his life in the same accident.

Diogo's tragic death comes just 11 days after he married his long-term girlfriend Rute Cardoso on 22 June during a stunning ceremony in Porto.

So why did he change his name?

READ MORE:Cristiano Ronaldo's heartbreaking tribute to Diogo Jota after tragic car crash deathDiogo went by the name of Diogo J or Diogo Jota during his football career

It's been reported that when Diogo was younger, he would request Diogo J to be printed on the back of his football shirt to help differentiate himself from others who bear the same name of Diogo or Silva.

From there, he was affectionately known as Diogo Jose or Diogo J.

Article continues below

But why did he go by Jota instead of Jose?

Therefore, his name going forward professionally was Diogo Jota.

His younger brother, André Filipe Teixeira da Silva, who played as a midfielder for FC Penafiel, chose to keep the family name, going by André Silva.

This led to some confusion with another footballer, RB Leipzig striker Andre Silva - proving Diogo's point with the popular Portuguese surname.

Tributes have flooded in for Diogo and his brother following the tragic news.