Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a tragic car accident in northwestern Spain early Thursday, just weeks after Jota’s wedding.
Spanish authorities confirmed the incident occurred shortly after midnight in Cernadilla, a municipality in the province of Zamora. According to the Civil Guard, the vehicle veered off the motorway and burst into flames, killing both occupants.
“Everything points to a tyre blowout while the vehicle was overtaking,” the Civil Guard said in a statement.
Jota, 28, had recently married longtime partner Rute Cardoso on June 22, and had shared a video of the ceremony on Instagram just hours before the accident. The couple had three children.
Tributes poured in from across the football world, with Pedro Proenca, president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), calling the loss “devastating.”
“We have lost two champions. The deaths of Diogo and Andre Silva are irreparable losses for Portuguese football. We will do everything possible to honour their legacy every day,” Proenca said on social media.
He described Jota as “an extraordinary person, respected by teammates and opponents alike, and a source of joy and inspiration within his community.”
Proenca also revealed that the FPF had requested a minute’s silence before Portugal’s Women’s Euro 2025 match against Spain in Switzerland on Thursday.
Jota began his professional career at Paços de Ferreira, before moving to Atlético Madrid and later FC Porto on loan. He rose to prominence during a successful spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers, which led to a 2020 transfer to Liverpool.
Last season, Jota scored nine goals in all competitions, playing a key role in Liverpool’s 20th Premier League title campaign.
He earned international caps for Portugal and was widely regarded for his versatility, work ethic, and goal-scoring instinct.
