Raúl Jiménez paid a moving tribute to his former teammate Diogo Jota during Mexico’s 2–1 victory over the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on Sunday night in Houston.
Jiménez, who played alongside Jota at Wolverhampton Wanderers, stepped onto the pitch at NRG Stadium wearing a Mexico jersey emblazoned with Jota’s name and iconic No.20. The gesture came just days after the Portuguese forward’s tragic death in a car accident in Spain, alongside his brother.
The 28-year-old Liverpool and Portugal winger’s untimely passing has cast a long shadow over the footballing world, with players and fans across the globe paying tribute. On this night, Jiménez’s homage stood out as one of the most heartfelt.
Before kick-off, Jiménez wore Jota’s shirt during the national anthem. Though he reverted to his usual No.9 during the match, he brought Jota’s memory back to life with a crucial 27th-minute equaliser, levelling the score after Chris Richards had put the hosts ahead.
After scoring, Jiménez held up the No.20 shirt in front of the fans and mimicked Jota’s trademark ‘video game celebration’ in front of the cameras—a gesture that brought both cheers and tears from the stands.
HISTORIA. pic.twitter.com/ZVCzJMmeer
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Mexico went on to win the match in the 77th minute through a goal from Edson Álvarez, sealing their record 10th Gold Cup title. But the emotional centrepiece of the night remained Jiménez’s tribute to a fallen friend.
Jiménez and Jota formed a strong partnership during their time together at Wolves between 2018 and 2020. Both initially joined the club on loan before making permanent moves, and both became key figures during Wolves’ rise under Nuno Espírito Santo.
Reflecting on Jota’s death earlier this week, Jiménez said:
*”He was a fantastic teammate. We shared many beautiful moments together at Wolves. He was an essential part of our success and a close friend. It’s heartbreaking to lose someone like him.”*
Sunday’s tribute by Jiménez served as a poignant reminder of the bonds forged through football—and the enduring legacy of a player who left the pitch far too soon.