Liverpool Football Club and the global sporting community are mourning the loss of Portuguese international Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car accident in Spain at the age of 28.
The fatal crash occurred in the early hours of Thursday in Zamora province, where Jota and his brother André Silva were both pronounced dead at the scene. Local authorities confirmed the car veered off the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking and caught fire shortly after.
André Silva, aged 25, was also a professional footballer who played for Portuguese second-division side Penafiel. Both brothers were travelling in a Lamborghini when the accident happened at approximately 00:30 local time.
Jota, who had only recently married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso on 22 June, leaves behind a young family of three children. The news of his death has shocked football fans worldwide and drawn heartfelt tributes from clubs, players, and political leaders.
Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a £41 million deal. He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the Reds, playing a key role in their FA Cup and League Cup victories in 2022, as well as contributing to their recent Premier League title triumph.
Before his time at Liverpool, Jota had successful spells at Wolves and FC Porto, and began his professional career at Paços de Ferreira. He was initially signed by Atlético Madrid before moving to the Premier League.
Wolves described Jota as a beloved figure at the club, where he scored 44 goals over three seasons. Former teammates and staff expressed deep sorrow at the loss, calling him an inspiration on and off the pitch.
Jota earned 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 goals. His final international appearance came earlier this month in Portugal’s victory over Spain in the Nations League final. The Portuguese Football Federation expressed profound grief, calling Jota and his brother role models for young athletes and promising to honour their legacy.
UEFA has confirmed a minute’s silence will be held before Portugal’s upcoming Women’s Euros match against Spain in memory of the two players.
Jota’s brother, André Silva, began his football journey in FC Porto’s youth system. He later played for clubs including Gondomar and most recently Penafiel, where he made 59 appearances in the past two seasons.
FC Porto and Penafiel both expressed shock and sorrow at the sudden passing of two of their former players, remembering their contributions and the positive impact they had on the footballing community.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and former manager André Villas-Boas have also paid tribute, reflecting on the loss as a national tragedy and a heartbreaking moment for the entire country.
The football world now grieves the passing of two promising and well-respected athletes whose careers and lives were cut short far too soon.
