The soccer world is in mourning following the tragic death of Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota in a car crash in Spain early on Thursday morning. Jota was just 28 years old. In a heartbreaking turn of events, his brother, André Silva, a former professional footballer himself, also lost his life in the accident at the age of 25. This devastating incident has sent shockwaves through the football community and raised concerns about road safety.
The accident occurred around 12:30 a.m. local time on the A-52 road in Zamora, northwestern Spain. According to the Guardia Civil, the crash was caused by a “burst tire while overtaking.” Reports indicate that the vehicle carrying Jota and his brother veered off the road and subsequently caught fire. Although it remains unclear which brother was driving the car, Spanish media have reported that it was a Lamborghini. The authorities were able to identify the remains based on documents found at the scene, along with the car’s license plate, as reported by CNN Portugal.
For further investigation, the remains of Jota and André Silva were moved to a morgue in the nearby town of Puebla de Sanabria. A source close to the sub-delegate of the Spanish government in Zamora confirmed this development to CNN. On Thursday afternoon, the players’ family was present in Puebla de Sanabria to finalize the administrative requirements necessary for the release of the remains, allowing them to be returned to Portugal. A representative from the Government Sub-delegation in Zamora noted that the crash is being investigated as “a possible speeding incident.”
A wake for Jota and his brother began on Friday morning at a church in their hometown of Gondomar, located near Porto. The church, Igreja Martiz de Gondomar, announced that it would open its doors to the public on Friday afternoon. A funeral service is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET), providing an opportunity for friends, family, and fans to pay their respects.
Diogo Jota played a pivotal role in the Liverpool team that recently lifted the Premier League trophy, marking their achievement of equaling the English record of 20 top-flight titles. Throughout the season, Jota featured in 26 of the club’s 38 league matches, scoring six goals and providing four assists. Over his five-year tenure on Merseyside, he netted a total of 65 goals and won an FA Cup and two EFL Cups. Moreover, he was a key player for the Portugal national team, contributing to their Nations League victory in June this year, a title he also helped secure in 2019.
André Silva had been playing for Futebol Clube de Penafiel in Liga Portugal 2, the country's second division. Over his career, he scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists in 105 matches across both full and youth levels.
In the wake of this tragic news, tributes have been pouring in from across the soccer world. Renowned Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his disbelief, stating that Jota's death “does not make sense.” Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who signed Jota for the club in 2020, shared his heartfelt condolences, offering “prayers, thoughts, and power” to the family. Current Liverpool manager Arne Slot also paid tribute, stating, “When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota; we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.”
Tributes also came from beyond the soccer field, including NBA star LeBron James and the United Kingdom’s Prince William, who expressed his deep sadness at this profound loss.
