WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Justice Department official played down the possibility of additional criminal charges arising from the Jeffrey Epstein files, saying Sunday that the existence of “horrible photographs” and troubling email correspondence does not “allow us necessarily to prosecute somebody.”
Department officials said over the summer that a review of Epstein-related records did not establish a basis for new criminal investigations, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said that position remains unchanged even as a massive document dump since Friday has focused fresh attention on Epstein’s links to powerful individuals around the world and revived questions about what, if any, knowledge the wealthy financier’s associates had about his crimes.
“There’s a lot of correspondence. There’s a lot of emails. There’s a lot of photographs. There’s a lot of horrible photographs that appear to be taken by Mr. Epstein or people around him,” Blanche said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “But that doesn’t allow us necessarily to prosecute somebody.”
He said victims of Epstein’s sex abuse “want to be made whole,” but that “doesn’t mean we can just create evidence or that we can just kind of come up with a case that isn’t there.”
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President Donald Trump’s Justice Department said Friday that it would be releasing more than 3 million pages of documents and more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images under a law intended to reveal most of the material it collected during long-running investigations into Epstein.
The fallout from the release of the files has been swift.
In the United Kingdom, Lord Peter Mandelson announced his resignation from the governing Labour Party on Sunday following further revelations about his relationship with Epstein. He said he was stepping aside to avoid causing “further embarrassment,” even as he denied allegations he had received payments from Epstein two decades ago.
A top official in Slovakia, meanwhile, left his position after photos and emails revealed he had met with Epstein in the years after Epstein was released from jail. And British Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested that longtime Epstein friend Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, should tell U.S. investigators whatever he knows about Epstein’s activities.
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A document that was included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files is photographed Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, shows the report when Epstein was taken into custody on July 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
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A document that was included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files is photographed Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, shows the report when Epstein was taken into custody on July 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
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The revelations continue
The files posted to the department’s website included documents involving Epstein’s friendship with Mountbatten-Windsor, along with Epstein’s email correspondence with onetime Trump adviser Steve Bannon, New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch and other prominent contacts with people in political, business and philanthropic circles, such as billionaires Bill Gates and Elon Musk.
The Epstein saga has long fueled public fascination in part because of his past friendships with Trump and former President Bill Clinton. Both men have said they had no knowledge Epstein was abusing underage girls.
Among the records was a spreadsheet created last August that summarized calls made to the FBI’s National Threat Operation Center or to a hotline set up by prosecutors from people claiming to have some knowledge of wrongdoing by Trump. That document included a range of uncorroborated stories involving different celebrities, and somewhat fantastical scenarios, occasionally with notations indicating what follow-up, if any, was done by agents.
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Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche takes a question from a reporter during a news conference after the Justice Department announced the release of three million pages of documents in the latest Jeffrey Epstein disclosure in Washington, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche takes a question from a reporter during a news conference after the Justice Department announced the release of three million pages of documents in the latest Jeffrey Epstein disclosure in Washington, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Blanche said Sunday that there were a “ton of people” named in the files besides Trump and that the FBI had fielded “hundreds of calls” about prominent individuals where the allegations were “quickly determined to not be credible.”
Some of Epstein’s personal email correspondence contained candid discussions with others about his penchant for paying women for sex, even after he served jail time for soliciting an underage prostitute. Epstein killed himself in a New York jail in August 2019, a month after being indicted on federal sex trafficking charges.
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In one 2013 email, a person whose name was blacked out wrote to Epstein about his choice “to surround yourself with these young women in a capacity that bleeds — perhaps, somewhat arbitrarily — from the professional into the personal and back.”
“Though these women are young, they are not too young to know that they are making a very particular choice in taking on this role with you,” the person wrote. “Especially in the aftermath of your trial which, after all, was public and could be — indeed was — interpreted as a powerful man taking advantage of powerless young women, instead of the other way around.”
In a 2009 email, not long after Epstein had finished serving jail time for his Florida sex crime, another woman, whose name was redacted, excoriated him for breaking a promise that they would spend time alone together and try to conceive a baby.
“I find myself having to question every agreement we have made (no prostitutes staying in the house, in our bed, movies, naps, two weeks Alone, baby…),” She wrote. “Your last minute suggestion to spend THIS weekend with prostitutes is just too much for me to handle. I can’t live like this anymore.”
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‘This review is over’
Blanche said in a separate appearance on ABC’s “This Week” that though there are a “small number of documents” the Justice Department was waiting for a judge’s approval before it can release, when it comes to the department’s own scouring of documents, “this review is over.”
“We reviewed over six million pieces of paper, thousands of videos, tens of thousands of images,” Blanche said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that he believed the Justice Department was complying with the law requiring disclosure of the files.
But Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., a co-sponsor of the law, said he did not believe the department had fully complied. He said survivors were upset some of their names had inadvertently come out without redactions.
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Blanche said each time the department has learned a victim’s name was not properly redacted, it has moved quickly to fix the problem and that those mistakes account for a tiny fraction of the overall materials.
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The AP is reviewing the documents released by the Justice Department in collaboration with journalists from Versant, CBS and NBC. Journalists from each newsroom are working together to examine the files and share information about what is in them. Each outlet is responsible for its own independent news coverage of the documents.
“The new range of Eau de Parfums from M&S are great quality and long lasting. This scent is nice and fresh.”
Emily Sleight Reviews & Affiliates Writer and Nadia Breen
08:39, 25 Feb 2026
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
If you’re searching for a Mother’s Day present for that important woman in your life, a fresh fragrance is always a safe bet. Marks and Spencer is known for its wide perfume selection, including the ‘Discover’ and ‘Apothecary’ collections that deliver high-end fragrances without the price tag.
The Sweet Water Lily Eau De Parfum 50ml is currently retailing at £16 and has been flagged as ‘selling fast’ on the M&S site, but there’s a way to secure it for considerably less. First-time members of cashback platform TopCashback and new M&S customers (without a login) can get the scent for just 60p after cashback by registering here.
This means you could purchase the present for under a pound. Existing M&S shoppers can still benefit from a reduced price of 87p after cashback – by using the same unique link.
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According to the M&S website, the complete product description states: “Expand your fragrance collection with the fresh Sweet Water Lily Eau De Parfum from our Discover range. It’s blended with notes of waterlily and violet leaf that create a natural aroma. Crisp green base aromas, as well as comforting vanilla and musk add warm depth. This scent is housed in a 50ml glass bottle, with a sculptural cap for a stylish look.
“From sweet, fruity notes to spicy ambers, experimentation is a key part of finding the fragrance that suits you. ‘Discover’ offers you a varierty of scents mapped across the fragrance families for you to explore and find your perfect scent.”
For those seeking a luxury branded fragrance, Boots has dramatically cut the price of this Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum 60ml from its original £70 to £35. It’s been flagged as ‘selling fast’ and the offer can be viewed here, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Meanwhile, at The Perfume Shop, this Gucci Bamboo Eau de Parfum Spray has been discounted to £49.99 from £90. More details are available here.
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Returning to the M&S reviews for the perfume, one customer commented: “This is a lovely fragrance…very delicate and floral. Long-lasting on skin as well”.
Another buyer remarked: “Bought for myself, love M&S perfumes. Inexpensive and delightful fragrance.”
A third shopper said: “The new range of Eau de Parfums from M&S are great quality and long lasting. This scent is nice and fresh.”
Cashback will then track and appear in your TopCashback account within seven working days of your purchase.
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Naga Munchetty has allegedly taken a dig at Sally Nugent’s glamorous new look, which she revealed on Instagram thus month, and issued a bizarre insult about her BBC Breakfest co-star
08:41, 25 Feb 2026Updated 08:42, 25 Feb 2026
Naga Munchetty is alleged to have ‘ruffled feathers’ with comments about Sally Nugent’s glamorous new look. Naga, 51, is best known for fronting BBC Breakfast but in more recent months has come under fire amid allegations of bullying on set. The allegations were eventually turned into a formal investigation.
According to insiders, Naga issued a bizarre dig aimed at co-star Sally, 54, following her glossy makeover, claiming that she looked as if she was about to take up a job on the “less serious” rival channel with her new look.
According to The Sun, Naga said: “We’re meant to be serious journalists, not trying to look like we’re presenting This Morning!”
An insider then claimed that Sally’s new look has caused some upset backstage and Naga’s comment was a “nasty little moment” amid the ongoing investigation.
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A source told the outlet: “Sally’s had a glow-up and her new do is looking fantastic. But it ruffled feathers as is often the way in the showbiz industry, There were a couple of remarks about it and Naga particularly made a comment about them being journalists not This Morning hosts.
“Things have been ticking along fairly quietly for the last couple of months whilst the bullying investigations continued but this was a nasty little moment!”
A BBC spokesperson told The Mirror: “We do not comment on individual staff issues.”
Naga has been a part of the programme for over a decade and normally presents with Charlie Stayt from Thursdays to Saturdays, whilst Sally takes the reins at the start of the week alongside Jon Sen.
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Sally posted her glamorous new look onto social media earlier this month, and tagged Calum Tierney, who has worked with Coronation Street stars Samia Longchambon and Michelle Keegan in the past.
She instantly won praise from several of her celebrity pals, with Morning Live’s Helen Skelton leaving three fire emojis in the comments section, whilst Strictly Come Dancing professional Nadiya Bychkova said: “Gorgeous” and Michelle Ackerley said: “Beautiful [red heart emoji]”
Towards the end of last year, a string of claims made against Naga, who also presents on BBCRadio 5 Live. Allegations relating to Naga vary from allegedly hitting out at an intern for spreading Marmite on her toast incorrectly, and making an unwanted sexual remark to a female colleague.
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Naga also allegedly hit out, claiming her porridge was “too hot” and she wasn’t a fan of blueberries, which had been used as a topping. BBC Breakfast boss Richard Frediani had also faced accusations of bullying before Naga and her co-anchor, Charlie Stayt, faced claims. The complaints about Frediani were not upheld. Stayt is said to remain “under review”.
The workplace culture review, led by management consultant Grahame Russell from Change Associates, was launched in the wake of the furore over disgraced former newsreader Huw Edwards.
At the time, a source said: “Naga has not been taken off air but now has certain members of production monitoring her and her interactions.
“She’s only allowed to speak to specific people too. It’s far from ideal as a way of working and everyone hopes it comes to a head someway or another soon!”
Cedarbarn Farm Shop and Cafe, set on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors in Pickering, has been praised by Olive magazine for being a “treasure trove of Yorkshire deli finds”.
It’s also been described as a “go-to spot for foodies” thanks to its array of stock, including artisan treats, its own farm produce, Shepherd’s Purse cheeses, and Whitby Seafish smoked fish, to name a few.
The foodie publisher explained about its latest guide: “Delicatessens are fast becoming go-to destinations for food lovers seeking quality produce, regional specialities or simply a good cup of coffee and a pastry.
“Whether you’re stocking up on pantry essentials, hunting for a prime foodie gift or intrigued by those little luxuries that make cooking more exciting, these independent gems across the UK deliver on flavour, provenance and a sense of community, from historic establishments to neatly curated farm shops and bucolic village nooks.”
Take a look at all of the UK’s top delis via the Olive magazine website.
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Why is this North Yorkshire deli among best in the UK?
Cedarbarn Farm Shop and Cafe on Thornton Road (YO18 7JX) was recently announced as a finalist at the Northern Farmer Awards, as it’s in the running for Food Retailer/Producer of the Year.
Meanwhile, Olive magazine revealed: “A treasure trove of Yorkshire deli finds, Cedarbarn Farm Shop on the outskirts of Pickering is a must-visit.
“This wholesome deli and farm shop is a go-to spot for foodies to stock up on artisan treats, with a considered range of fresh produce grown on its own farm and groceries from some of Yorkshire’s finest suppliers (Shepherd’s Purse cheeses, Whitby Seafish smoked fish and Yorkshire Rapeseed oil, for example).
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“Shelves are lined with Rosebud Preserves jams, local Yorkshire honey, Cartwright & Butler butterscotch crunch biscuits and bottles of Wold Top Brewery ales.”
We recently spotlighted Cedarbarn Farm Shop as it’s been hailed a “hidden gem” by locals – you can read more about that in our previous article.
Additionally, on Google, the best-named foodie spot has a 4.6/5-star rating based on more than 1,600 reviews.
We recently spotlighted Cedarbarn Farm Shop as it’s been hailed a ‘hidden gem’ by locals (Image: Tripadvisor)
A recent customer wrote: “A beautiful shop with luxury provisions.
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“With both a delicatessen and butchers on site.
“Lovely cafe as well.
“A good selection of baked goods.
“Also stocking their own brand jams as well.”
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This guest posted: “Excellent shop, particularly liked the selection and service offered by the butcher – very helpful with selecting the right cut of meat.
“The cafe is delicious as well.
“Highly recommend!”
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Someone else commented: “Really good cafe and farm shop, excellent food, good service and reasonably priced, amazing home-made chutney and great farm shop.”
Do you know about any other delis or farm shops that are a “must-visit” in North Yorkshire? Share your suggestions in the comments below.
US President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address at the US Capitol, outlining his administration’s accomplishments and his vision for the year ahead.
During his wide-ranging speech, which lasted 1 hour and 48 minutes, Trump made the case that America had improved under his watch.
The BBC’s Daniel Bush takes a closer look at Trump’s main themes of immigration and the economy – and who he was looking to appeal to with his address.
Dhara Vyas, the chief executive of Energy UK, which represents firms, said: “Today’s reduction in the energy price cap is a welcome first step by the Government toward providing meaningful support for households, helping make it more affordable for people to keep their homes safe, comfortable, and warm.
Snoop Dogg was in attendance for Swansea’s game against Preston (Credits: Alamy Live News.)
The Swansea City co-owner Snoop Dogg was greeted with twirling towels and a guard of honour on his first visit to the Welsh club.
The American rapper, who is a minority owner of the Championship club alongside the television host Martha Stewart and Croatia international Luka Modric, made his first appearance at the Swansea.com Stadium for Tuesday’s clash with Preston.
Snoop joined the Swansea ownership group last July and made his way to south-west Wales after attending the Winter Olympics, where he served as Team USA’s honorary coach as well as a special correspondent for broadcaster NBC.
The celebrity visit had created so much excitement that a sell-out crowd of 20,233 turned up. Snoop Dogg, who had arrived at the stadium nearly three hours before the 7.45pm kick-off, had requested the crowd to be in their seats ahead of the action to twirl the complimentary towels.
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Snoop took to the field through a guard of honour for Snoop made up of 20 youngsters representing Wales at the 2026 Street Child World Cup in North America.
Dressed in the club’s all-white colours, with a Swansea crest on his jacket, dark glasses and a beanie hat, Snoop made a pre-match lap of honour as fans twirled their towels with rock music booming in the background.
The star saluted the fans, shook hands with some, and had photographs taken with others. The club mascot, Cyril the Swan, even got a hug. He eventually disappeared down the tunnel seven minutes later just before a light show started prior to kick-off.
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Snoop Dogg invested in Swansea last summer and is now one of the club’s co-owners (Picture: Getty)
Snoop Dogg watched from the stands as Swansea were held 1-1 by Preston (Picture: Getty)
Swansea boss Vitor Matos revealed Snoop Dogg was ‘really happy’ after watching his side salvage a 1-1 draw.
Liam Cullen cancelled out Daniel Jebbison’s first-half strike in the fifth minute of stoppage time with a fine header.
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Cullen’s goal extended Swansea’s unbeaten home run to nine games and provided some satisfaction for the watching Snoop.
Matos said: ‘After the game he came to the dressing room and spoke with the players.
‘He’s someone that likes to be involved, not only with us but with the (United States) Olympic team as well.
‘He loves sports, loves sports people. He loves the club, loves the city, and wants to be here.
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‘I think that’s all positive and he was really happy because he felt that the team had the right mentality. He felt that the team could push.’
Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom, meanwhile, downplayed the occasion and atmosphere created by Snoop Dogg’s walkabout before kick-off.
Snoop Dogg’s presence helped generate a record crowd at the Swansea.com Stadium (Picture: Getty)
Liam Cullen’s late goal rescued a point for Swansea (Credits: Aled Hopkins/Action Plus/Shutterstock)
Heckingbottom joked that the only difference to other Championship games was the smell of illicit drugs, with Snoop Dogg having built a public persona around his copious marijuana intake.
‘The only thing I noticed different was the smell of weed in the tunnel before the game,’ Heckingbottom quipped.
‘It’s only different for people who are here every week, isn’t it?’ We don’t play at Swansea every week, so it’s no different for us.
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‘We go away to Ipswich the other week, they were at it, their fans were at it, and that was noise all game. I felt we kept everyone quiet here until the end.’
Dr Michael Mosley, a pioneer of intermittent fasting, died while on a walk on the Greek island of Symi in 2024, with his body being discovered four days after he went missing
Matt Jackson Trendswatch Content Editor
08:00, 25 Feb 2026
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The 67-year-old was discovered just over two miles from the private resort where he was staying with his wife Dr Clare Bailey Mosley. He had been missing for four days at that point.
Now his son, Dr Jack Mosley, has disclosed that people frequently stop him in the street to talk about his father’s contributions. This comes as Jack says his father’s efforts helped “tens of thousands of people” shed weight.
Michael, and the work he undertook with Clare, even inspired Jack to become a GP himself. He has now assumed leadership of the Fast800 from his father, reports the Mirror.
He stated: “He’s had a really big impact on me, they both have really, and they were part of my inspiration to become a doctor, because it was something they were so passionate about and I could see how many tens of thousands of people they had helped with their passion for improving the nation’s metabolic health.
“People tell me all the time how much of a difference my dad has made to their lives and really it has dramatically improved their health. In a way it’s almost surprising at times when people say, ‘I’ve lost X amount of weight’.”
Jack is spearheading The Fast 800 Online Programme, which he describes as a “lifestyle programme” that expands on his father’s work. It provides three types of meal plan: the “Very Fast 800”, utilising an 800-calorie plan for weight loss over 12 weeks; the 5:2 intermittent fasting plan; and a long-term Mediterranean diet plan.
The programme also offers exercise guidance through workout plans, incorporating both high-intensity interval training and resistance exercises, as well as educational content explaining the science behind weight loss.
Jack further explained: “The plan was based on a study that found that 800 calories a day for 12 weeks, this rapid weight loss, can reverse their diabetes, which was not thought possible before and if they kept 10kg of weight off, they could keep their diabetes in remission.
“It progressed from there to be this overall lifestyle support system for people who want to have this rapid weight loss and improve their metabolic health but also, there’s people who want to do it more gradually by fasting, like the 5:2, which my dad famously popularised.
“It’s also there to help people with other aspects that we know are so important in your health like exercise, including aerobic, and also mindfulness. It’s this real complete support system and helps provide people with a group of people to do it with who are on the same page.”
The force has published a CCTV image of a man it would like to identify, saying he may have information to support its investigation into the theft.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Please contact us if you recognise the man pictured on CCTV.
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“Email ben.hepworth@northyorkshire.police.uk if you can help.
“Alternatively, you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for PC 685 Hepworth or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.
“Please quote reference 12260016094 when passing on information.”
“I am in urgent contact with Thames Water and am following progress on the repair closely. I expect Thames Water to break their past pattern of behaviour. They must look after those that are flooded and those without water. And they must do it properly: mitigating their suffering, acting fast, and communicating properly.
Rafael Leao played alongside Diogo Jota with Portugal and the AC Milan ace has paid tribute to the man he was and the inspiration he still provides for the national team
AC Milan and Portugal ace Rafael Leao has paid tribute to the man Diogo Jota was and he continues to serve as an inspiration for the national team.
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The striker was tragically killed in the summer, leaving all those associated with him in mourning following the shock news. Jota died while driving through Zamora, Spain, in his Lamborghini when a flat tyre suddenly burst and sent the car veering off the road. His brother also passed away in the incident.
The Portuguese ace, who had only just claimed the Premier League title at Anfield, was loved by his club and international team-mates. Leao revealed that Jota was also a great listening ear and very generous, whilst he also took time out to come and watch him in Milan.
He said in an interview with CBS: “Everyone cared about him. Even if sometimes he was in his corner talking with his wife or kids. But he was a good team-mate and always wanted to help everyone, even me sometimes. Sometimes I used to ask him for a few things and he would also ask me for tickets for his family. To come to AC Milan to watch some games.”
Jota’s funeral in July was an incredibly emotional affair with international team-mates Bruno Fernandes, Ruben Dias Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves, as well as former Liverpool player Fabinho, Porto president Andre Villas-Boas and Portugal manager Roberto Martinez all present.
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Asked whether his passing would inspire Portugal to go on and win the World Cup, Leao said: “Every game we think about him. Always after a game he was there celebrating and if he could score a goal. And every game we think about him.”
Leao and Jota were part of Portugal’s last World Cup bid, which saw them shocked by Morocco in the last eight in Qatar. They have never claimed the World Cup but have the chance to do so this summer in North America, with Jota’s legacy among their motivating factors.
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In pre-season Leao paid his own tribute to Jota after opening the scoring for Milan against Liverpool. The Portuguese winger made the number 20 with his fingers. It was a subdued celebration from the winger, who was keen to pay his respects to the player.
This season the Liverpool players have had a “Forever 20” emblem – referencing Jota’s retired shirt number – printed on their shirts and stadium jackets for the season. The Portugal star became the first player in Reds’ history to have his number retired in the wake of the tragedy.
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