Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28 following a devastating car accident in Spain. The tragic crash, which occurred at around 12:30 a.m. local time on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla in Zamora, also claimed the life of Jota’s younger brother, Andre Silva, 26, a player for Liga Portugal 2 side Penafiel.
According to reports, the brothers were travelling in a Lamborghini when a tyre blowout caused their car to veer off the road while overtaking another vehicle. The vehicle subsequently caught fire, leaving no chance of survival.
Jota’s death comes just days after he married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children.
Liverpool, who signed Jota from Wolves for £41 million in 2020, expressed their devastation at the loss of their talented forward. During his time at Anfield, Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances, playing a crucial role in winning the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022 and helping secure the Premier League title last season.
Jota began his Premier League career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, arriving from Atlético Madrid in 2017, initially on loan before making the move permanent. He went on to score 44 goals in 131 games for Wolves, establishing himself as one of the league’s most clinical attackers.
Internationally, Jota made his debut for Portugal in 2019 and earned 49 caps, scoring 14 goals. His final appearance for his country came in their UEFA Nations League final win over Spain on June 8.
Jota’s sudden passing leaves a profound void in the world of football, and he will be remembered not only for his exceptional talent on the pitch but also for the joy and passion he brought to fans around the world.
