Diogo Jota was elite FIFA gamer and once spent a week as world No.1

Diogo Jota, the Liverpool striker who was killed alongside his brother André in a car crash in Spain on Thursday, was as successful on the virtual pitch as he was on the Premier League grass.

Jota, 28, emerged as a top-tier FIFA player (now EA FC) during the COVID‑19 lockdown, claiming the world No. 1 position on the FIFA 21 Champions Leaderboard for PlayStation with a 30‑0 record in February 2021. Earlier, in April 2020, he won the FIFA 20 ePremier League Invitational, where he defeated Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander‑Arnold in the final.

“Every time we travel for away matches, I take the PlayStation with me. It makes time go smoothly,” he said in an interview with The Gamer in 2023.

Beyond his personal success, Jota launched an esports organisation in November 2020 known initially as Diogo Jota eSports, later rebranded LUNA Esports or Luna Galaxy. The team, headquartered in Portugal, competed across titles such as FIFA, Dota 2, and Rocket League. By mid‑2025, it had achieved over $430,000 in tournament winnings and maintained a full roster of competitive players.

His engagement went beyond ownership. Jota was a regular on Twitch, streaming gameplay and interacting with fans. He credited gaming and his esports responsibilities with providing crucial mental resilience during injury periods, including involvement with the Esports World Cup.

Jota once highlighted the parallels between competitive gaming and football, stating he believed esports “has the potential to captivate millions worldwide” and praised its rapidly evolving scale.