Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has tragically passed away at the age of 28 following a fatal car accident in Spain.
The crash occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning in Zamora, Spain, and was first reported by local media. While Liverpool FC has yet to confirm the heartbreaking news, the Portuguese Football Federation has released an official statement.
Jota’s younger brother, Andre Silva, also died in the accident. Andre, aged 26, was a professional footballer who played for Penafiel, a second-division club in Portugal.
According to Spanish authorities, the Lamborghini they were traveling in veered off the road after a tire blew out while overtaking another vehicle. The accident happened around 12:30 a.m. BST in the Cernadilla municipality of Zamora province. The car caught fire, and both men were declared dead at the scene.
Police confirmed the identities, stating: “The player and his brother, Andre Felipe.”
Jota had recently married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, who is also the mother of his three children. The couple tied the knot just last month.
A key player for Liverpool since joining from Wolves in 2020, Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances, contributing to the club’s Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup victories. He also played a vital role in the squad that reached the 2022 Champions League Final.
Prior to his time at Anfield, Jota had stints with Pacos de Ferreira, Porto, Atletico Madrid, and Wolves, helping the latter secure promotion to the Premier League in the 2017–18 season with 17 league goals.
Internationally, Jota represented Portugal 49 times, netting 14 goals and helping his country win the UEFA Nations League twice — most recently just a month ago.