“He was with me”: Trent honours Jota after Club World Cup victory

Trent Alexander-Arnold paid an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota following Real Madrid’s 2–1 win over Borussia Dortmund, dedicating the Club World Cup semi-final spot to his late former teammate, who tragically died in a car crash alongside his brother André Silva last week.

“He was with me on the pitch. I’m sure of it,” said the 25-year-old defender, who assisted Fran Garcia’s goal in the quarter-final victory held in the United States.

Alexander-Arnold and Jota spent five years together at Liverpool before the full-back made a summer move to Real Madrid. Jota, just 28, and his younger brother died in a tragic road accident in Spain. Their funeral took place on Saturday in Gondomar, Portugal.

“It was very difficult to accept the news,” Alexander-Arnold told DAZN. “I had to focus on my role in the team, no matter how difficult it was. I know Jota would have wanted me to keep playing. And I know after the game we would have laughed together about my assist.”

Reflecting on their years of shared moments at Anfield, he added: “He was a man who always filled the room with his energy. We shared a dressing room for five years. The memories are wonderful and he will never be forgotten. He will live on in all of our hearts.”

Alexander-Arnold also expressed deep sympathy for Jota’s family: “I knew him, his brother, his extraordinary wife, his parents, his children… The heartbreak of a couple when you wake up to news like this. You never want to experience it.”

Jota’s passing has united the football world in mourning. Kylian Mbappé pointed to the number 20—Jota’s Liverpool shirt number—after scoring for Real Madrid, while Ousmane Dembélé honoured him with a signature Jota-style celebration in PSG’s win over Bayern Munich.

As Real Madrid prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals, the legacy and memory of Diogo Jota continue to be felt across the global football stage.