Liverpool soccer participant Diogo Jota was killed in a automobile crash in Spain when the Lamborghini he was in veered off a street and burst into flames, police mentioned Thursday. He was 28.
The Portuguese soccer star’s 25-year-old brother, André Silva, additionally died within the automobile crash close to the northwestern metropolis of Zamora, authorities mentioned.
The crash occurred previous midnight native time. Police mentioned they have been investigating the causes of the crash and the our bodies have been present process forensic evaluation. Authorities haven’t confirmed which brother was behind the wheel of the automobile when the crash occurred.
“Within the absence of a conclusion of the consultants proof, all the pieces factors {that a} automobile left the street, as a consequence of a tire blowout whereas overtaking,” the police mentioned.
The brothers have been driving eastward alongside an remoted stretch of freeway, about an hour west of Zamora, when the crash happened.
“The automobile was incinerated, and so they died inside,” Spanish authorities official Ángel Blanco mentioned.
Jota and Silva, each Portuguese soccer gamers, have been the one ones within the automobile, in response to police.
Jota had not too long ago gotten married to his longtime girlfriend — his high-school sweetheart — Rute Cardoso, on June 22, simply 10 days earlier than his loss of life. They share three youngsters.
“A day we are going to always remember,” he captioned a video of their wedding ceremony day, shared on Instagram.
Spanish media have revealed photographs of the crash’s aftermath. Pictures present tire marks streaking throughout and off the street towards broken guardrails, and the burnt automobile will be seen a number of metres away.
A view from the site visitors crash of the Portuguese Liverpool participant Diogo Jota, who misplaced his life in Zamora, Spain on July 3, 2025.
Nico Rodriguez/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs
Common view of the crash website the place Liverpool FC participant Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva misplaced their lives, exhibiting the wreckage of the Lamborghini Huracan at kilometre 65 of the A-52, close to the city of Cernadilla, near Zamora, Spain.
Octavio Passos/Getty Photographs
Firefighters have been known as in as flames from the crash unfold into close by vegetation, authorities mentioned.
Liverpool Soccer Membership issued a press release following Jota’s loss of life, saying it was “devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.”
“Liverpool FC might be making no additional remark at the moment and request the privateness of Diogo and Andre’s household, associates, teammates and membership employees is revered as they attempt to come to phrases with an unimaginable loss. We are going to proceed to offer them with our full assist,” Liverpool added.
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The Portuguese nationwide group additionally paid tribute to Jota in a press release, writing, “The Portuguese Soccer Federation and all of Portuguese soccer are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva this morning in Spain.”
“Far past being an distinctive participant, with almost 50 appearances for the Nationwide Group, Diogo Jota was a rare particular person, revered by all teammates and opponents, somebody with a contagious pleasure and a reference inside his personal group,” the assertion continued.
“On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Soccer Federation, I specific our deepest condolences to the household and associates of Diogo and André Silva, in addition to to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the golf equipment the place the gamers, respectively, carried out.”
The Portuguese Soccer Federation additionally requested that UEFA “observe a minute of silence this Thursday earlier than our Nationwide Group’s match in opposition to Spain within the Ladies’s European Championship.”
“We’ve got misplaced two champions. The passing of Diogo and André Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese Soccer, and we are going to do all the pieces to honor their legacy every day.”
UEFA mentioned its ideas have been with kinfolk, associates and teammates affected “by this heartbreaking loss.” It confirmed {that a} second of silence might be noticed at Euro 2025 matches on Thursday and Friday.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro commented on the “surprising and tragic” deaths. He mentioned Jota was “an athlete who enormously honored Portugal’s title.”
“I prolong my deepest condolences to their household,” he mentioned. “It’s a unhappy day for soccer and for nationwide and worldwide sports activities.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer talked in regards to the “devastating information.”
“I’m certain I communicate for everybody in saying our first ideas are going to be along with his household and his associates particularly,” he mentioned. “There are hundreds of thousands of Liverpool followers but additionally soccer followers and non-fans who can even be shocked by this. It’s devastating and actually vital we keep in mind simply how troublesome a interval this might be for his associates and for his household.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota’s Portugal teammate, mentioned, “It doesn’t make any sense. Simply now we have been collectively within the nationwide group, simply now you had gotten married.”
“My condolences to your loved ones, to your spouse and to your youngsters. I want all of them the power on this planet. I do know that you’ll all the time be with them. Relaxation in peace, Diogo and André. We are going to all miss you.”
The Premier League mentioned it was “shocked and devastated.”
“Our sincerest condolences go to Diogo’s household, associates, Liverpool FC, and all their supporters at this heartbreaking time,” it mentioned. “Soccer has misplaced a champion who might be endlessly missed. We are going to proceed to assist our associates and colleagues on the membership.”
Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher wrote, “Ideas are with everybody of their household & associates, particularly his spouse Rute & their three pretty youngsters.”
Stan Collymore, one other former Liverpool participant, wrote, “I’m certain like many within the soccer household there’s only a profound sense of shock, disappointment and disbelief on the new of Diogo Jota’s loss of life on the unfathomably younger age of 28. Newly married too.”
Liverpool ahead Darwin Núñez shared a photograph of himself and Jota celebrating a aim collectively, writing, “There aren’t any phrases of consolation for a lot ache. I’ll all the time bear in mind you by your smile, as a great teammate on and off the pitch.”
“I ship all my power to his household, wherever he’s I’m certain he’ll all the time be with you, particularly to his spouse and three youngsters. RIP Diogo and André.”
LeBron James took to X to share his condolences, writing, “My prayers goes out to his family members throughout this time! Could you all be guided and guarded.”
Tennis participant Rafael Nadal known as Jota’s loss of life “unhappy and painful information.”
“All my love, affection and assist exit to his spouse, youngsters, household and associates at this troublesome time,” Nadal added.
Liverpool followers gathered exterior Anfield, Liverpool’s stadium, on Thursday morning, leaving flowers, jerseys and different tributes to Jota.
Tributes at Anfield Stadium, dwelling of Liverpool, in reminiscence of Diogo Jota, who has died on the age of 28. Image date: Thursday, July 3, 2025.
Peter Byrne/PA Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Folks pay their respects as tributes are laid for Diogo Jota at Anfield on July 3, 2025 in Liverpool, England. The Liverpool participant and Portugal worldwide died in a automobile crash in Zamora, Spain on the age of 28.
Jess Hornby/Getty Photographs
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and received three main trophies with the Merseyside membership — together with the Premier League title final season.
— With information from The Related Press
