Diogo Jota was a true gentleman and legend of the modern football game

All rivalries have been suspended, all divisions temporarily forgotten. The world of football is united in bewilderment and shock at the sudden, tragic loss of one of the sport's brightest stars. As mountains of flowers pile up in Diogo Jota's native home city of Porto, at Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molineux ground, where he first played in England, and at Liverpool's Anfield stadium, where he was of the club's key players, social media is full of heartfelt tributes to a uniquely talented player who brought his own special brand of daring, passion and chivalry to all he did on the field.

Already a legend in the game at the age of 28, he was at the peak of his powers when his life was so cruelly cut short by yesterday's fatal car accident in north-west Spain. He had been travelling in his Lamborghini with his brother Andre Silva, also a professional footballer, to catch a ferry to England so he could start pre-season training at Liverpool next week.

The void he leaves at the club will be impossible to fill for, in many ways, he was the ideal modern footballer. Highly versatile and skilful, he had a phenomenal work ethic and a natural instinct for goal-scoring, qualities that were adored by the Anfield faithful. His first Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who bought him for £41million in 2020 from Wolves, described him as "the perfect signing", while last season his goals helped win the Premiership title for Arne Slot, Klopp's successor at Anfield.

Jota had also achieved glory on the international stage, winning 48 caps for Portugal and helping drive his side to win the UEFA Nations League last season. Even with all this silverware, there was a sense that the best was yet to come.

As well as success in the playing arena, Jota had found domestic contentment in his personal life. With unbearable poignancy, just 11 days before the fatal crash he had married Rute Cardoso, his long-term partner and the mother of his three children.

The patent decency of his character was another reason for his huge appeal to fans. Hailing from a humble Portuguese family, the son of a factory worker who made electronic parts for the motor industry, he always displayed a concern for others and a spirit of restraint in his personal life. Not for him the boastful excess or tawdry scandals that are often associated with Premiership stars and the modern game.

Cut down too young, Jota now joins the ranks of sport's immortals. A true gentleman of the modern game, he will always be remembered wherever football is played.