Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj honoured late Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota with a heartfelt tribute during the third Test against England at Lord’s on Friday.
After dismissing England’s Jamie Smith in the first innings, Siraj celebrated by forming a “20” hand sign — a nod to Jota’s jersey number at Liverpool — and looked up towards the sky, dedicating the moment to the footballer. The gesture was captured on camera and shared by Star Sports on their official X handle, touching fans across both sporting communities.
Siraj ended with figures of 2 for 85 in 23.3 overs, contributing to India’s effort in bowling England out for 387. His victim, Jamie Smith, had looked threatening with a brisk 51 off 56 balls before edging behind to the substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel.
The tribute came just over a week after Jota tragically passed away in a car accident in Spain on July 3. The 28-year-old was reportedly travelling with his brother at the time of the crash, as per Sky Sports.
Jota, a beloved figure in the football world, began his journey in Porto with Paços de Ferreira before being signed by Atlético Madrid in 2016. Though he never played for the Spanish giants, he rose to prominence during loan spells at Porto and Wolves. Under Portuguese manager Nuno Espírito Santo, Jota became a key figure for Wolves in the Premier League between 2018 and 2020.
His move to Liverpool in September 2020 marked the next big chapter of his career. With the Reds, Jota became a regular feature, including this season where he made 26 appearances and scored six goals, helping Liverpool clinch the 2024-25 Premier League title. He was also part of the squad that lost the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League final to Real Madrid.
On the international stage, Jota made his debut for Portugal in 2019 and featured in both Euro 2022 and Euro 2024. Though he missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to injury, he returned to help Portugal win the UEFA Nations League in May this year, overcoming Spain in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Jota’s sudden demise sent shockwaves across the global football community, and Siraj’s touching gesture from the cricket field was a rare yet powerful cross-sport tribute, reminding fans of the camaraderie and respect shared across the sporting world.
