Online Reporter
LIVERPOOL star Diogo Jota was reportedly heading to catch a ferry and return to the UK when he died in a car crash alongside his brother.
The 28-year-old Portuguese forward was driving through Zamora, Spain in a Lamborghini when his flat tyre suddenly burst and sent the car veering off the road, police believe.
His brother André Silva, 26, who played for second-tier club Penafiel, was also in the car at the time as it set on fire after crashing and killed both men.
Jota had married his high school sweetheart Rute Cardoso just 10 days earlier.
The crash occurred on the A52, near the municipality of Palacios de Sanabria at around 12:40am.
The dad-of-three was believed to have been driving a luxury SUV Lamborghini Urus and travelling towards a port in the northern city of Santander.
He was due to catch a ferry this morning after being advised not to take a plane due to a recent lung surgery, according to CNN Portugal.
The Portuguese ace had missed several matches last season after suffering a rib injury in October during a match against Chelsea.
Jota was due to return to Liverpool to take part in the club’s pre season games which start later this month. Emergency crews rushed to the crash site in the early hours of the morning and managed to put out the flames.
Both brothers were tragically pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Zamora Provincial Council.
Their bodies have been taken to a forensics unit in Zamora so autopsies can be performed.
The Urus is a luxury sporty SUV worth around £150,000 and has a top speed of 190mph.
Police are said to be looking into the crash as “a possible speeding incident”, according to a government sub-delegation source in Zamora.
Jota played on the left wing and up front for Liverpool after joining from Wolves in 2020 for a fee of £41million.
Liverpool FC paid a touching tribute to Jota as they said: “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.”
They added that everyone at the club is still coming to terms with the “unimaginable loss”.
The Portuguese national football team have said they are “devastated” by the Jota’s death.
They added that he “was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person who was respected by all his teammates and opponents”.
Jota had got married just 10 days ago to his longterm partner Rute Cardoso and the couple have three children, Dinis, Duarte, and a daughter who was born in 2024.
The couple shared pictures of themselves in front of the altar with their kids on their big day.
In the caption, they said: “June 22, 2025. Yes to forever.”
The Instagram post received over 190,000 likes and over 1,000 comments.
And it included love heart emojis from fellow Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and Natalia Becker, wife of goalkeeper Alisson.
The Premier League described Jota − who won the competition for the first time earlier this year − as a “champion who will be forever missed”.
Both men’s former club FC Porto also paid tribute, saying: “Futebol Clube do Porto is in mourning.
“It is with shock and deep regret that we send our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who was also our youth player. May they rest in peace.”
UEFA confirmed there will be a minute silence during tonight’s Women’s Euros match between Spain and Portugal.
Personal tributes have also been flooding in for the star, with teammate Cristiano Ronaldo honouring the footballing brothers.
He said on Instagram: “It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the selection, you had gotten married now.
“To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish you all the strength in the world.
“I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.”
Liverpool’s number nine, Darwin Nunez, shared an image of a smiling Jota coming on as a substitute for the Uruguayan last season.
The star striker said he will always remember Jota for his smile.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has shared his own statement on his “great friend”.
The German, who signed Jota from Wolves for £45m in 2020, said on social media: “This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose, but I can’t see it.”
He continued: “Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father.
“We will miss you so much. All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them.”
Fellow Liverpool icons such as Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler and David James have all also paid their respects.
Carragher posted on Instagram: “Absolutely devastated by the sad news about Diogo Jota. Thoughts are with his wife Rute and their three kids.”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer added that Jota’s death is “devastating news”.
He told reporters: “I’m sure I speak for everyone in saying our first thoughts are going to be with his family and his friends in particular.
“But there are millions of Liverpool fans, but also football fans, and non-fans, who will also be shocked by this.”
As Prince William said on X: “As part of the footballing family, I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Diogo Jota and his brother.”
Ex-player and pundit Gary Neville, Newcastle hero Alan Shearer and TV presenter Piers Morgan all described the news as “heartbreaking”.
Jota’s international teammate Ruben Neves posted online: “They say we only lose people when we forget about them.
“I’ll never forget you!”
The Portuguese forward started his career in his birthplace of Porto, playing for Paços de Ferreira. He made his first Primeira Liga appearance in 2015 and a year later moved to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
But the diminutive striker never made an appearance in La Liga and spent a year on loan at FC Porto where he scored eight goals.
This caught the eye of then-Championship side Wolves who loaned the 20-year-old before making the move permanent for a reported £12million.
His 17 goals helped propel Wolves to the Premier League where he continued to impress at the highest level, scoring 16 goals over the following two seasons.
Then in 2020, Klopp bolstered Liverpool’s attack by bringing in Jota.
In five seasons at the club, he scored 47 Premier League goals and helped Liverpool win the Premier League, FA Cup and two Carabao Cups − Sun.
