🙏 Diogo, gone far too soon... Football will never forget you | OneFootball

The disappearance of Diogo Jota and his brother was a tragic news, one of those that makes you think: "It was too soon".

But even the most significant losses tend to fade over time, and we want to remember those active footballers who, like Jota, left us young and at the same time taught us a lesson, directly or indirectly.

Davide Astori - a captain for everyone

In Italy, we remember him very well: March 4, 2018, the day of Udinese-Fiorentina that changed the recent history of Italian football and that of Fiorentina.

Astori's death in his sleep at 31 years old united the entire football world, even bringing Juventus to attend the funeral. A gesture that was due, expected, but at the same time very significant: uniting in respect for a respected person, regardless of beliefs, thoughts, and faiths of all kinds.

Antonio Puerta - the memory that united fans

On August 25, 2007, Antonio Puerta, Sevilla's left-back, collapsed during the first league match against Getafe. The player managed to return to the locker room, but his condition worsened in the following days, leading to his passing on August 28 at the age of 22.

An unexpected death that united the fans of Sevilla and Milan, opponents in the European Super Cup on August 31. The Rossoneri fans gave Sevilla fans a commemorative banner, and Milan, who won the trophy, did not celebrate.

Sergio Ramos remembered him after all the victories with the Spanish National team, wearing a shirt with the photo of the former player during the celebrations.

Andrea Fortunato - never judge from the outside

At 22, Andrea Fortunato was Juventus's left-back, Trapattoni wanted him in black and white, and he immediately became a starter. He also debuted in the National team, and many identified him as Cabrini's heir: an important comparison that Fortunato seemed able to bear.

During the spring of '94, his performances declined, his physical readiness disappeared, and some ultras accused him of being lazy, of living "the good life". Nothing could be more wrong, as at the end of the season, he was diagnosed with leukemia, which took him away in April 1995. Out of gratitude, he was included in the squad of that season: a year in which Juve won the Scudetto, which, symbolically, is also his.

Emiliano Sala - disputes not to be repeated

The death of Emiliano Sala on January 21, 2019, while crossing the English Channel was a shock, but the disappearance of a 29-year-old boy left behind not only the pain and respect that should be paid to him.

In this case, time has shown many distortions that have not gone unnoticed: in particular, the 120 million compensation request that Cardiff asked from Nantes. A statistical study on the club's lost revenues caused by the player's absence.

An inelegant gesture that reopened that pain 5 years after Emiliano Sala's death. We also talk about it today, but to emphasize how business should never cross the line imposed by respect and memory.

Andres Escobar - the problems of an entire society

Colombia's elimination from the 1994 World Cup also came due to an own goal: that of its leader Andres Escobar. The team's pillar made an unexpected mistake, and his return to Colombia was anything but triumphant.

In early July, the defender was killed in Medellin outside a nightclub, fueling various conspiracies: ties with drug trafficking, lost betting hypotheses, or a premeditated killing.

None of this: a murder - most likely - for passionate issues involving women linked to the underworld. No premeditation, just a lot of endemic violence. From that moment, several players left Colombia, fearing for their safety: a murder that marked the history of the entire country in the '90s.

José Antonio Reyes - road safety

An error while driving, perhaps a vehicle defect, and the lack of road safety: a life cut short at just 35 years old. The emotion for the death of José Antonio Reyes on June 1, 2019, united all of Spanish football and shed light on the lack of safety on that stretch of road.

High speed (67 km/h over the limit), a tire that explodes, and an inefficient barrier - according to expert Miriam Moya - took him away too soon.

Piermario Morosini - emergency response on the field

On April 14, 2012, Piermario Morosini died at 25 after a cardiac arrest suffered during Pescara-Livorno in Serie B. The failure to use the defibrillator in the first moments and the ambulance being blocked by a car near the field made the rescue attempts futile.

It makes little sense to think about what could have been done better, but it is certain what happened after that day. In fact, since 2013, thanks to a decree from the Ministry of Health, semi-automatic defibrillators are mandatory in all professional and amateur sports facilities. An event that, unfortunately, raised awareness and consciousness. Lives are saved only if we are ready to do so.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

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