EMOTIONAL MOMENTS 》Mexico’s Raul Jimenez Pays Touching Tribute to Diogo Jota After Scoring Goal Against USMNT in Gold Cup Final

Jimenez equalized for Mexico with a thunderous strike into the top corner and his celebration after the goal moved fans across the world.

Mexico striker Raul Jimenez delivered a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and former teammate Diogo Jota during Mexico’s Gold Cup final triumph over the United States in Houston. Before kickoff at NRG Stadium, Jimenez walked onto the pitch wearing a Mexico jersey with “Diogo J 20” on the back, honoring the Liverpool and Portugal forward.

Diogo Jota tragically passed away in a car accident last week alongside his brother Andre. Jota and Jimenez shared two seasons together at Wolves and builded a close bond during their time in the Premier League.

Mexico conceded an early goal as Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards headed in from Sebastian Berhalter’s free-kick. Mexico responded to the USMNT’s early lead in the 27th minute of the game. Jimenez equalized for Mexico with a thunderous strike into the top corner. But it was his celebration that moved fans across the world.

Jimenez sat down on the turf and performed Jota’s signature “video game controller” celebration while placing Jota’s jersey across his lap. It was a moment that transcended the game itself, capturing the grief and love felt by the football community following Jota’s untimely passing at the age of 28.

What Did Diogo Jota’s FIFA Celebration Mean?

Diogo Jota’s iconic “video game controller” celebration originated from his passion and skill for EA Sports FC (formerly known as FIFA). More than a casual gamer, Jota made headlines in April 2020 when he achieved a perfect 30-0 record in FUT Champions, placing him among the top 20 players globally in EA Sports FC’s Ultimate Team mode.