Diogo Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal forward, has died in a car accident in north-western Spain. He was 28. His younger brother, André Silva, was also killed.
The two were travelling together just after midnight on Wednesday when their car came off the road in Zamora province. Police said a rear tyre had been punctured before the driver lost control. The vehicle—a Lamborghini—caught fire. Flames spread into nearby fields.
Jota, a father of three, had married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso, less than two weeks earlier. The couple, high-school sweethearts, had shared wedding photos on Instagram. “My dream came true,” Rute wrote. Jota replied: “I’m the lucky one.”
Liverpool confirmed his death in a statement posted on the club’s official website.
“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,” the club said.
“The club requests that the privacy of Diogo and André’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.”
Tributes poured in from across football and public life. Portugal’s prime minister, Luís Montenegro, described the accident as “unexpected and tragic,” and added, “It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports.”
Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, called Jota “much more than a fantastic player.”
“Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his teammates and opponents,” he said.
“His joy was infectious. His influence extended beyond the pitch.”
Proença said UEFA had been asked to observe a minute’s silence ahead of Portugal’s Women’s European Championship match against Spain on Thursday.
Jota’s sudden death came just days after a high point in his international career. He had helped Portugal win the 2025 UEFA Nations League title, beating Spain in a penalty shootout. Among those who shared that moment with him was Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo posted a message across his social media accounts:
“It makes no sense,” he wrote.
“Just now we were together with the national team, just now you got married. To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you’ll always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.”
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and went on to score 65 goals in 182 appearances. He helped the club win the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup. With Wolves, he had earlier won the Championship. For Portugal, he made nearly 50 appearances and won two Nations League titles.
His brother, André, 26, played for Penafiel, a second-tier club in Portugal. Both were considered hard-working professionals—and loved in their locker rooms.
The loss, sudden and brutal, has left a deep mark on football. At Liverpool. In Portugal. And beyond.
