Liverpool FC and Portugal international forward Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28 following a car accident in northwestern Spain.
The incident, which occurred on the A52 motorway near Palacios de Sanabria in the province of Zamora, also claimed the life of Jota’s brother, André Silva, a professional footballer for Liga Portugal 2 side Penafiel.
The accident took place in the early hours of Thursday morning when the vehicle carrying the Jota brothers veered off the road and caught fire. Emergency services, including the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center, responded to the scene.
A medical emergency unit and primary care medical staff from the Mombuey Health Center confirmed the deaths of both individuals at the scene. Details surrounding the cause of the crash remain limited, and local authorities have yet to release an official statement.
The football world has been left in shock by the sudden loss of Jota, a beloved figure known for his skill, dedication, and versatility on the pitch.
Liverpool FC has officially confirmed the news via a statement that reads, “The club has been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, André.
Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and requests the privacy of Diogo and André’s family, friends, teammates, and club staff be respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.”
Tributes have begun pouring in from fans, teammates, and rival supporters alike. Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher wrote on Instagram, “Absolutely devastated by the sad news about Diogo Jota. Thoughts are with his wife, Rute, and their three kids.”
Ex-Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville said in a social media post, “That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother. All my love and best wishes to his family.”
Jota’s death comes just weeks after a joyous milestone in his personal life. The Portuguese star married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, in a ceremony in Porto, surrounded by their three children.
Jota shared photos of the wedding on social media, captioning it, “June 22, 2025 • Yes, forever.” The couple had been together since 2012, and Jota proposed to Cardoso in July 2022.
Born in Porto, Jota rose to prominence through Paços de Ferreira’s youth setup before moving to Atlético Madrid in 2016 and then to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League in 2017.
His £41 million transfer to Liverpool in 2020 marked a turning point in his career, where he flourished under manager Jürgen Klopp, contributing to the club’s Premier League, FA Cup, and two Carabao Cup triumphs.
Jota scored 44 goals in 131 appearances for Wolves and added numerous goals for Liverpool, scoring a total of 65 in 182 appearances for the Reds, including six in 26 games during their Premier League title-winning campaign in 2025.
Internationally, Jota earned senior caps for Portugal from 2019, playing in two European Championships, the 2022 World Cup, and helping secure the UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.
His legacy as a dynamic and passionate player will endure, forever etched in the hearts of those who watched him grace the pitch.
– Jeremiah Richu
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