Virgil van Dijk posts emotional Diogo Jota tribute with ‘unimaginable’ Liverpool admission 40 minutes ago Liverpool Echo

The year 2025 will never be forgotten by Virgil van Dijk. It will never fade from his memory, no matter how many trophies he lifts, no matter how many matches he plays, and no matter how many years pass. It was a year filled with pride, joy, achievement, and history. But it was also a year marked by deep pain, silence, and a loss that cut straight through the heart of Liverpool Football Club.

As the world welcomed a new year, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk chose not to hide his emotions. Instead, he opened his heart. He took to social media to share a message that reflected everything he had lived through over the past twelve months. His words were calm, honest, and heavy with meaning. They were the words of a leader who had seen both the very best and the very worst that football, and life, can bring.

For Van Dijk, 2025 was a year of huge success on the pitch. Liverpool reached the top of English football once again, lifting the Premier League title after a long and demanding campaign. The joy of that achievement was shared with teammates, staff, fans, and families. It was the result of hard work, sacrifice, and belief. For a captain, lifting the league trophy is one of the proudest moments possible, and Van Dijk stood tall as he guided Liverpool through another historic chapter.

Away from club football, the year also brought international success. Van Dijk achieved World Cup qualification with his country, another milestone in an already remarkable career. Leading his national team onto the global stage was a dream fulfilled, not just for him, but for everyone who believed in his leadership. He also broke records as captain of his country, cementing his place as one of the most respected defenders and leaders of his generation.

There were moments of pure happiness throughout the year. Moments shared in dressing rooms, on training pitches, and in stadiums filled with noise and passion. There were celebrations, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime. These are the moments footballers live for. These are the moments that make all the pressure worth it. But as Van Dijk made clear in his message, 2025 was not just about success. It was not just about trophies and records. It was also about a pain so deep that words still struggle to explain it.

Last summer, Liverpool and the wider football world were hit by devastating news. Diogo Jota, one of the club’s most loved players, tragically lost his life in a car accident. His brother, Andre Silva, was also killed in the same accident. The shock was immediate. The sadness was overwhelming. Football stopped feeling important.

Diogo Jota was more than just a forward. He was more than just a goal scorer. He was a teammate, a friend, a brother. Inside the Liverpool dressing room, he was known for his smile, his humility, and his relentless work ethic. On the pitch, he gave everything. He pressed, he fought, he scored crucial goals, and he never complained. Off the pitch, he was kind, respectful, and deeply loved. When the news broke, it felt unreal. Players struggled to process it. Fans were left in disbelief. A club built on togetherness and emotion suddenly found itself united in grief. Anfield, a stadium known for its noise and energy, fell into silence.

Van Dijk described that moment as an “unimaginable low.” And those words were not chosen lightly. Losing a teammate is something no player ever expects to face, especially in such sudden and tragic circumstances. It changes everything. It changes how you see football. It changes how you see life. In his message, Van Dijk spoke about Jota not just as a footballer, but as a person. He made it clear that Jota’s absence is felt every single day. In training. In matches. In conversations. In moments where his laugh would normally be heard. In moments where his presence would normally lift the room.

The loss of Jota changed Liverpool forever. It changed the players. It changed the staff. It changed the fans. There is now a space that can never be filled. A reminder that footballers are human beings, with families, loved ones, and lives beyond the pitch. Van Dijk’s role as captain became even more important during this period. He was not just leading a team chasing trophies. He was helping a group of men deal with grief. He was offering strength when words were not enough. He was standing beside Jota’s family, alongside his teammates, and alongside a fanbase that was hurting.

One of the most emotional moments of the season came when Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, returned to Anfield with their children. Liverpool were playing Wolves in the Premier League, but the match felt secondary. All eyes were on the stands. All hearts were heavy. The sight of Jota’s family back at Anfield reminded everyone of what had been lost, but also of the love that still surrounds themAnfield showed once again why it is more than just a stadium. The applause, the banners, the respect, and the silence spoke louder than any chant. It was a moment of unity, grief, and support. A moment that showed football can still be beautiful even in sadness.

Van Dijk’s message reflected all of this. He spoke about the highs of the year with pride, but he did not shy away from the pain. He acknowledged it. He honoured it. He honoured Jota.“He was more than just part of a football team,” Van Dijk wrote. And that sentence alone captured everything. Jota was family. And when you lose family, the loss stays with you forever.

As the calendar turned to 2026, Van Dijk chose to end his message with hope. Despite everything he had been through, despite the unimaginable low, he wished happiness, health, peace, love, positivity, and success to everyone in the year ahead.Those words were not empty. They came from a place of experience. From someone who knows how fragile life can be. From someone who understands that success means little without people to share it with.

Liverpool now move forward carrying Jota’s memory with them. Every goal, every win, every celebration will carry his spirit. His name will continue to be sung. His legacy will remain part of the club’s history.For Virgil van Dijk, leadership is no longer just about organising a defence or lifting trophies. It is about guiding people through pain. It is about remembering those who are gone. It is about honouring teammates not just with words, but with actions.2025 gave him everything and took something away that can never be replaced. That is why it will always stay with him.

As Liverpool step into a new year, they do so together. With memories of joy. With scars of loss. And with a captain who understands both better than most.Diogo Jota will never be forgotten. Not at Liverpool. Not by Virgil van Dijk. And not by a football world that stopped, even if only for a moment, to remember what truly matters.