Molineux witnessed deeply moving scenes on Saturday evening as Wolverhampton Wanderers honoured their beloved former forward Diogo Jota before their Premier League encounter with Manchester City.
The stadium became a theatre of raw emotion as supporters unveiled an enormous tifo depicting the Portuguese striker celebrating in his old gold shirt, whilst those closest to him struggled to contain their grief.
Rute Cardoso, who had married Jota merely eleven days before his death, watched from the stands alongside his parents Isabel and Joaquim Silva.
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Wolves paid tribute to Diogo Jota with a magnificent tifo
|Reuters
Former team-mate and close friend Ruben Neves accompanied the grieving family, having served as a pallbearer at Jota's funeral.
The tribute featured multiple poignant elements, with floral wreaths placed on the pitch and Jota's image gracing the match programme cover.
Beneath the striking tifo, supporters displayed a banner reading "We'll remember you when you walk in fields of gold", referencing the Sting song that held special meaning for the player.
Players from both sides gathered at the centre circle for a minute's applause, with Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa visibly fighting back tears.
The emotional ceremony marked the club's first home Premier League fixture since Jota and his brother Andre Silva perished in a Spanish car accident on 3 July.
When the match reached the 18th minute, the entire stadium rose to applaud for sixty seconds, honouring the shirt number Jota wore during his Molineux years.
The Portuguese forward had arrived on loan from Atletico Madrid in 2017, sacrificing Champions League football for Championship action in a testament to his Premier League ambitions.
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Diogo Jota's mum Isabel Silva and wife Rute Cardoso were present at Molineux and applauded the fans
|Reuters
His impact proved transformative, netting 44 times across 131 appearances whilst guiding Wolves to promotion and consecutive seventh-place Premier League finishes.
He established club records with consecutive hat-tricks against Besiktas and Espanyol in Europa League action, with his eleven-minute treble against the Turkish side standing as Wolves' fastest European hat-trick.
The tragedy has prompted widespread remembrance across English football, with stadiums observing minutes of silence and players wearing black armbands throughout the weekend.
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Wolves fans applauded Diogo Jota in the 18th minute, the same number he wore for the club
|Reuters
Liverpool paid their own homage on Friday evening, with supporters creating a mosaic at Anfield during their 4-2 victory over Bournemouth.
Mohamed Salah replicated Jota's signature crocodile celebration after scoring and was overcome with emotion at full-time.
Manager Arne Slot dedicated the win to Jota, stating: "I would have loved to bring in Diogo Jota, but I could not for terrible reasons."
Wolves have inducted Jota into their hall of fame, with selected floral tributes set to form a permanent memorial at the club museum.