Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother died in a car crash in northwestern Spain on Thursday, July 3, police said, days after the star got married. The Civil Guard said a vehicle veered off a motorway and burst into flames shortly after midnight in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora, confirming the deaths of Jota, 28, and his brother Andre. "Everything points to the blowout of a tire while it (the vehicle) was overtaking," the Civil Guard said in a statement.
Jota, 28, got married to his partner Rute Cardoso on June 22. The couple had three children. He spent the last five years at Anfield and helped the English giants win the Premier League last season.
"Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota," the club said in a statement. "The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre. Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time 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."
Fans were quick to arrive at Anfield following the news and laid down tributes of their own, including scarves, wreaths and flowers.
Capped 49 times by Portugal, Jota previously played with Atletico Madrid and Porto before moving to England in 2017 with Wolves. His impressive form earned a £45 million move to Liverpool three years later where he quickly became a fans' favorite thanks to his goalscoring prowess.
Jota scored 65 times for the Reds and also lifted the League Cup and FA Cup in the 2021/22 season.
Portuguese football federation president Pedro Proenca wrote on social media that he was "devastated," calling Jota "an extraordinary person, respected by all his colleagues and opponents, someone blessed with an infectious joy and a reference for his own community."
Proenca said they had asked UEFA for a minute's silence before Portugal's Women's Euro 2025 match against Spain in Switzerland on Thursday. "We have lost two champions. The death of Diogo and Andre Silva are irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything possible to honor their legacy every day," Proenca added.