The football world is still mourning the sudden death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota. Now, fans have noticed something else – he’s been quietly removed from FC25, the latest edition of EA Sports’ popular football video game.
Jota, a fan favourite known for his sharp footwork and electric pace, is no longer playable in Kick-Off or Career Mode. His name has vanished from team sheets in the game’s offline modes.
EA Sports has not issued a full statement, but this move follows a long-standing licensing policy. When a player dies, their image rights typically expire, meaning game developers can no longer legally include them in roster updates.
“They always do this when a player passes,” explained one FIFA career mode player on Reddit. “It’s out of respect and due to licensing rules.”
The change doesn’t affect all modes. In Ultimate Team (FUT), Jota’s digital card remains — but it’s now untradeable and unavailable in new packs. It’s become more of a memorial than a collectible.
To honour his memory, EA rolled out a special “One of Us” Tifo pack in FC25. It features stadium banners showing Jota in shirts from Porto, Wolves, and Liverpool — the clubs where he left his mark.
Liverpool fans, still grieving, welcomed the tribute.
“He’ll always be one of us,” one supporter commented on Instagram. “Glad EA did something to remember him.”
The Portuguese striker died earlier this month in what police described as a “freak training ground incident.” He was 28. Liverpool have since retired his number 20 shirt permanently.
In Hong Kong last week, fans gathered at a memorial hosted by Liverpool legends including Kenny Dalglish. Floral tributes, scarves, and shirts filled the venue.
Despite his absence in the game, Diogo Jota’s presence is still felt deeply — both on screen and off.
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