Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash in Spain

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Diogo Jota and his brother were travelling in a car when it reportedly came off the road and burst into flames.

– Liverpool Football Club said on July 3 that they had been left “devastated” by the death of their player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain.

The Portuguese duo died in the north-western province of Zamora, said Spain’s Civil Guard, adding that the Lamborghini they were in had veered off a motorway and burst into flames shortly after midnight in the municipality of Cernadilla.

Jota, 28, spent the last five years at Anfield and helped the English giants win last season’s Premier League. Silva, 25, was a professional footballer with Portuguese second-tier club FC Penafiel.

“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,” the club said in a brief statement.

The Reds added that they will be making no further comment at the moment and “request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss”.

“We will continue to provide them with our full support,” concluded the statement.

The national law enforcement agency in Spain confirmed the deaths in a verbal statement.

“The information we have so far is that the car, which was a Lamborghini, was in a road traffic accident and left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking,” said the statement reported by the BBC.

“It was in the early hours, 00:30 local time (6.30am, July 3, Singapore time), in the municipality of Cernadilla, in the province of Zamora. The car caught fire and the two occupants were killed.”

Footage from the crash site showed police blocking a two-lane highway as one officer examined the charred remains of the car that had flipped over and ended up on the central verge.

Jota had just married long-time partner Rute Cardoso barely two weeks ago in Porto, Portugal.

The couple, who have three children, shared their wedding pictures in a joint Instagram post, with the caption “June 22, 2025. Yes to forever”. It has since garnered over 600,000 likes.

The forward joined Liverpool in 2020 in a €44.7 million (S$67.1 million) deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and went on to rack up 65 goals in 182 appearances for the Reds. Besides winning the Premier League, he was also part of the teams who won the FA Cup (2022) and League Cup (2022, 2024).

Fans were quick to arrive at Anfield following the news and laid down tributes of their own, including scarves, wreaths and flowers.

Jota also made 49 appearances for Portugal, scoring 14 goals and twice winning the Nations League .

Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro was among the first to pay tribute.

He said: “The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured Portugal’s name, and his brother is unexpected and tragic. I extend my deepest condolences to their family. It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports.”

In a social media post, the Portuguese Football Federation said it is “utterly devastated by the deaths of Jota and his brother”.

“Far beyond being an exceptional player, with nearly 50 caps for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference within his own community,” it said.

“We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and Andre Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything to honour their legacy daily.”

It added that it had requested European football’s governing body Uefa to observe a minute of silence before Portugal’s match against Spain in the Women’s European Championship on July 3.

Uefa said it is “deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing” and that “our thoughts are with their family, friends, teammates and all those affected by this heartbreaking loss”.

There were also many others who paid tribute.

Portugal football team captain Cristiano Ronaldo penned an emotional statement, saying: “It doesn’t make sense. We were together just recently in the national team, and you just got married.

“To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you’ll always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We’ll all miss you.”

Jota’s compatriot and former Wolves teammate Ruben Neves, who is now with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, said: “They say that we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you.”

Portuguese clubs Porto and Sporting CP released statements of their own.

“It is with shock and deep regret that we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who was also our athlete in the youth ranks. Rest in peace,” Porto said.

Sporting said: “The world of football is poorer. Sporting CP expresses its sorrow at the death of Portuguese international Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. Our deepest condolences go out to the whole family at this difficult time.”

Back in England, the Football Association and the Premier League said they were “devastated” to hear of the deaths. “ Everyone at the Premier League is shocked and devastated to learn of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota... Football has lost a champion who will be forever missed,” the league said.

Striker Darwin Nunez was one of the first at Liverpool who spoke amid the shock. “There are no words of comfort for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field,” he said.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was “heartbroken” to hear about the deaths.

The German said: “Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father. We will miss you so much.”

On the streets of Lisbon, many Portuguese said they were devastated by the tragic news.

“ He was, without a doubt, one of the great figures of our national team and a key player for Liverpool. It is a loss that saddens all Portuguese people, and I pray for him and for his family,” 25-year-old Francisco Ferreira told Reuters.

Tributes also poured in from outside the football world.

Tennis great Rafael Nadal said that it was “sad and painful news”.

The Spaniard added: “All my love, affection and support go out to his wife, children, family and friends at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Diogo Jota and Andre Silva.”

NBA basketball star LeBron James, a Liverpool fan, said: “My prayers go out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone, title of the Reds’ anthem) JOTA!!” REUTERS, AFP

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