Trent Alexander-Arnold wore a "20∞" tribute to the late Diogo Jota on his boots during Real Madrid’s 1-0 Champions League play-off win. For punters, the gesture won’t shift match odds but could nudge player-prop markets: consider backing Alexander-Arnold for an assist or key pass in fixtures where he visibly honours Jota, while emotional narratives may slightly increase interest in Real Madrid match-winner or market activity.
Alexander-Arnold honours Diogo Jota with boots tribute
Trent Alexander-Arnold carried a private tribute to the late Diogo Jota onto the Champions League stage, wearing boots marked with Jota’s number 20 and an infinity symbol as Real Madrid beat Benfica 1-0 in Lisbon. The subtle yet poignant sign caught the eye of supporters and social feeds, renewing focus on Jota’s legacy across English and European football.
What was on the boots?
The England international featured the number 20 alongside an infinity motif on the side of his match boots, a personal homage to his former Liverpool team-mate. Fans and commentators noted the detail during the play-off first leg, interpreting the symbol as a statement that Jota’s memory endures.
Memorials, retired shirt and fan tributes
Liverpool permanently retired the number 20 jersey in memory of Jota. Supporters continue to honour him at Anfield and at Molineux, the ground of his former club Wolves, and tributes have been visible across fixtures since the tragedy last summer.
Teammates and funeral tributes
Figures from the football community gathered to commemorate Jota and his brother following their deaths. A group of Liverpool players attended the funeral in Gondomar, Porto; Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson brought floral arrangements bearing the shirt numbers worn by Jota and his brother at their clubs. Alexander-Arnold, despite leaving Liverpool before the tragedy, has remained publicly respectful—placing flowers at Anfield on his return as a Real Madrid player and describing Jota as a dear friend who “lit up the room.”
Alexander-Arnold’s bond with Jota
The pair spent five seasons as teammates at Liverpool, forming a close on- and off-field relationship. Alexander-Arnold’s continued tributes underline the personal connection and the wider dressing-room impact of Jota’s loss.
What this means for bettors
While a personal tribute is unlikely to alter outright match odds, it can influence short-term betting interest. Punters may consider player-prop markets—backing Alexander-Arnold for an assist, key passes, or creative influence in matches where he publicly honours Jota—and monitor slightly increased betting activity around emotionally charged fixtures involving players connected to the tribute.
Jota’s career and lasting legacy
Diogo Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in September 2020 and played a key role in the Reds’ Premier League title campaign, featuring in 26 matches and scoring six goals that season.
His untimely death, and the subsequent gestures from teammates and fans, have cemented a legacy remembered both on matchdays and in quieter, personal tributes like Alexander-Arnold’s boots.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold has paid a touching tribute to his former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota
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