Liverpool have revealed the design for a permanent sculpture at Anfield honouring Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who both died in a car crash last July — days after Jota married his longtime partner Rute Cardoso.
The memorial is called Forever 20. That number hasn't been worn by anyone at the club since. Liverpool retired Jota's shirt across every level of the organisation, and fans have sung his name at the 20th minute of every game since. That tradition isn't going anywhere, and now neither is the tribute.
What the sculpture actually looks like
At its core is a flowing heart — a direct nod to Jota's signature goal celebration. Clever design work means the sculpture reads as both the numbers 20 and 30 depending on the angle, representing the shirt numbers the brothers wore during their playing careers.
The plinth tells its own story. It's carved from Granby Rock-faced stone, laser-engraved with a dedication to both brothers, and built using physical tributes — scarves, banners, flowers, cards, opposition jerseys — that supporters left outside Anfield in the immediate aftermath of their deaths. Those objects are now literally embedded in the structure. The grief that covered that stretch of pavement becomes part of the monument itself.
It will be positioned on 97 Avenue, the exact spot where that spontaneous memorial formed. The club also confirmed the sculpture will feature the lyrics to Jota's terrace song and a games controller detail resting on the plinth — a personal touch that goes beyond the football.
More than a tribute
Liverpool haven't confirmed an unveiling date yet, but the detail and care in the design makes clear this isn't a rushed gesture. From the recycled physical tributes in the plinth to the dual shirt numbers hidden in the shape, every element has been considered.
Jota was 28 when he died. In three seasons at Anfield he scored 65 goals in all competitions and won the league, FA Cup, and League Cup. The No. 20 shirt stays empty. The sculpture will stand on 97 Avenue for as long as the ground does.
