Portuguese striker Diogo Jota, the star of English Football League champion Liverpool, and his brother died on Wednesday night - Thursday in a traffic accident in northwestern Spain, about ten days after his marriage, according to local police. The accident occurred at twelve-thirty after midnight on a highway in the town of Cernadia, located in the province of Samora, close to the Spanish-Portuguese border.
The car veered "off the track" before it caught fire, according to what the Guardia Civil agency explained, explaining that the two passengers, Diogo and his younger brother Andre, who is also a professional footballer with the Penafiel club in the second division in Portugal, had died.When emergency services arrived. Local media showed videos showing the wreckage of a car, which they said was a Lamborghini owned by Jota.
Liverpool, in its official accounts, wrote: "Liverpool are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota... The club was informed that the 28-year-old died in a traffic accident in Spain along with his brother Andre.".
He continued: "Liverpool will not make any further comment at this time, and requests that the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, their friends, teammates and club staff be respected as they try to overcome this unimaginable loss.". According to preliminary investigations, the accident may have been caused by a tire exploding in Jota's car while he was trying to overtake another car, according to the same source.
Million dollars) coming from Wolverhampton, 58 million euros (about 49 compared to 2020).Gota moved to Liverpool in September.
Within five years, the winger, who is capable of occupying the spearhead position and scoring beautiful headers, established himself as a key player in Liverpool, serving the squad of German coach Jurgen Klopp, then Dutchman Arne Slot.
He played a major role in the successes of the Red Team in recent years, especially in its coronation journey towards the Premier League title, with 182 goals in the past 65 seasons. He scored nine goals in various competitions last season, on Liverpool's way to their 20th title. He scored, while finishing runner-up in 2022, the Federation Cup and the League Cup in the 2025 season, a match in his career with Liverpool, lifting the league title in (2016-2017), and Porto (2016-2014). The Porto-born player carried the colors of Passos de Ferreira (2022 Champions League).2020 - 2017Wolverhampton
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International match) who last season won the European Nations League title with his country for the second time, 48 goals in 14.He was an international player (last June), and they have three children. Hours before the accident, he published clip 22 in which he announced his marriage to his fiancée, Roti Cardoso, in a video about his wedding, on which he commented, "A day we will never forget.".
"Unbelievable"
His compatriot, veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo, considered Jota's death "unbelievable.". The Saudi Al-Nassr player, a five-time FIFA World Player of the Year, wrote: "This is unbelievable. We were just together on the national team, and you had just gotten married. To your family, your wife and children, I extend my deepest condolences and wish you every strength. I know you'll always be with them. Rest in peace; Diogo and Andre. We will miss you both," he said. As for former Liverpool boss, German Jurgen Klopp who brought Jota to Liverpool, he expressed "great sadness... This is a moment when I suffer! There must be a greater purpose than that! But I don't see it! I am deeply saddened by the death of Diogo and his brother Ender
The European Union (UEFA) imposed a minute of silence at the Women's European Cup matches on Thursday and Friday, to mourn the death of Jota, in response to the request of the Portuguese Football Federation. "The Portuguese Football Federation and all Portuguese football are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva," Portuguese Football Federation President Pedro Proença wrote on Facebook. He added: "Diogo Jota was more than just a great player, an international match with the first national team, he was an exceptional person, respected by all his 50 teammates, as he participated in almost all of his opponents.".
"I'll never forget you"
The President of the Republic of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo do Sousa, addressed "a loss that shocked all the Portuguese people," deeply regretting "the tragic and premature death of football player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.". Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said the deaths of Jota and his brother were "unexpected and tragic.". "This is a sad day for football and for national and international sport", he wrote on the X platform, praising "the athlete who has so honoured Portugal".
As for FC Porto president Andre Villas-Boas, he said, on the website of the club whose colours Jota carried on loan from Spain's Atletico Madrid: "This is a moment of deep sadness for all FC Porto members and the entire Portuguese people. Two young men lost their lives in tragedy, men who represented FC Porto brilliantly and will be remembered not only for their footballing skills but also for their human character," he said.
Jota's former Wolves team-mate, international midfielder Robin Nevesh, who with his Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal will play in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup in the United States, wrote on Friday: "They say we lose people when we forget them. I'll never forget you!".
In turn, Wolves have expressed their heartbreak at Jota's departure: "Our hearts are broken. Diogo was loved by our fans, by his teammates, and appreciated by everyone who worked with him while he was at Wolverhampton.".
