Diogo Jota has tragically died at the age of 28 following a road traffic accident in Spain.
The Liverpool forward passed away following an accident in Zamora, Spain on Thursday morning.
Pedro Proenca, the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, later confirmed that Jota's brother, Andre, 26, also died in the accident. The news comes just under two weeks after the Portugal international got married to his long-term girlfriend Rute Cardoso, with whom he has three children. They tied the knot on 22 June.
Liverpool confirmed the devastating news in a statement, which read: “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. 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.”
Emergency services in the Castilla and Leon region had earlier confirmed the crash with a statement which read: “The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire.
“1-1-2 notified the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU) of this accident.
“From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center were sent, who confirmed the death of two people on the scene.”
A tyre blowout on the Lamborghini they were travelling in caused the crash before a fire broke out, leaving a devastating wreckage by the side of the road. Medical personnel confirmed the deaths of the two occupants of the vehicle shortly after arriving at the scene.
A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Zamora said: "The investigation into the crash is being carried out by Civil Guard traffic officers. We believe the car suffered a blowout from the marks on the road. The full police report once it is completed will be submitted to a duty court in Zamora which has launched an ongoing judicial investigation into this crash.
“That report is going to take time to complete, probably about four or five days but possibly longer. At this moment in time it is impossible to say at exactly what speed the car was going but that is something the Civil Guard investigators will be able to detail at least approximately in their final report from things like the skid marks. What I can confirm is that no other vehicle was involved and no-one else was hurt."
Proenca paid tribute to Jota in a statement on social media shortly after the news broke. He confirmed that Portugal have requested for a minute of silence to be observed before their match with Spain at the women's European Championship. He said: “The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, this early morning, in Spain.
“Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 international appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.
“On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, they played their football.
“The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked Uefa for a minute's silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women's European Championship...
“The loss of Diogo and Andre represent irreplaceable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything, daily, to honour their legacy.”
Portugal prime minister Luis Montenegro also paid tribute on social media. He wrote: “The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured the name of Portugal, and his brother is unexpected and tragic.
“I leave the family my deepest condolences. It's a sad day for football and for national and international sport.”
Cristiano Ronaldo added to the tributes for his Portugal team-mate, saying: "Doesn't make any sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you were married. To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. R.I.P. Diogo and Andre We will all miss you."
The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, shared a statement of his own later in the day, saying: "Let me start with Jota because this is devastating news. I am sure I speak for everyone in saying our first thoughts are going to be with his family and his friends in particular.
"There are millions of Liverpool fans but also football fans and non-fans who will also be shocked by this.
"It is devastating and really important we bear in mind just how difficult a period this will be for his friends and for his family."
Ruben Neves, Jota's former team-mate at Wolves, was also among the first people to pay tribute to his friend. He wrote on social media: “They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you!”
Jota's previous club, FC Porto, also paid tribute to the forward and his brother. They wrote: “FC Porto is in mourning.
“It is with shock and deep sorrow that we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who was also our athlete in the youth ranks. Rest in peace.”
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the Reds, including six last season as the Reds won the Premier League title.
He also won the FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool and the Nations League twice with the Portugal national team.