Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28 following a tragic car crash in Spain, just days after his wedding. His younger brother, André Silva, 26, also perished in the accident.
The fatal crash occurred on the A-52 highway near Palacios de Sanabria, Zamora, on Wednesday night, when the vehicle carrying the brothers veered off the road and caught fire, according to Spanish emergency services.
Emergency responders confirmed the deaths of both occupants at the scene. In a statement, the Castilla y León emergency service said: “A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire. Medical personnel confirmed the death of two people at the scene.”
Jota, a father of three, had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso on June 22. The couple shared a heartfelt post on Instagram at the time, captioned: “June 22, 2025. Yes to forever,” accompanied by family pictures that drew tributes from teammates and fans.
The Portuguese star, widely regarded for his clinical finishing and relentless work rate, joined Liverpool in 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £45 million. He scored 47 Premier League goals over five seasons, helping Liverpool win the Premier League, FA Cup, and two Carabao Cups.
Jota was also a regular for the Portuguese national team, earning 49 caps and scoring 14 goals, including a substitute appearance in their UEFA Nations League triumph earlier this summer.
Born in Porto, Jota began his professional career with Paços de Ferreira before moves to Atlético Madrid, FC Porto, Wolves, and finally Liverpool. His younger brother André played for Penafiel in Portugal’s second tier.
Liverpool, the Portuguese Football Federation, and countless fans have begun paying tribute to the star, whose sudden passing has left the football world in shock.
As of press time, neither Liverpool FC nor the Portuguese national team had issued an official statement beyond confirming they were aware of the incident and extending condolences to his family.
Jota’s death marks a tragic end to the career of one of football’s brightest talents, who only weeks ago appeared to be entering the prime of his career — and his life.
