By Barney Henderson
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Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, were killed in a car crash early Thursday morning near Zamora, Spain. The tragic accident has sent shockwaves through the football world, cutting short the lives of two professional athletes just weeks after Jota's wedding. Authorities say the vehicle, a Lamborghini, veered off the road and caught fire, believed to be caused by a tire blowout. The devastating loss has prompted tributes from teammates, clubs, and fans worldwide.
What to Know:
- The crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. on a remote stretch of highway near Cernadilla, Spain.
- The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed that both men died at the scene; no other vehicles were involved.
- The car caught fire, and flames spread to nearby vegetation before firefighters arrived.
- Jota, 28, had just won the Premier League with Liverpool and was capped 49 times for Portugal.
- Silva, 25, played for FC Penafiel, a second-tier Portuguese club.
- Jota married longtime partner Rute Cardoso on June 22; they have three children.
- Tributes poured in from Liverpool FC, Jurgen Klopp, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James and the Portuguese Football Federation.
- A minute of silence will be observed at Euro 2025 matches in their honor.
- Fans gathered at Anfield, laying flowers and scarves in remembrance.
- No public memorial details announced yet, but UEFA and clubs are planning tributes.
Jul 03, 2025 at 11:40 AM EDT
Teams hold minute’s silence to honor Diogo Jota
Jul 03, 2025 at 10:03 AM EDT
Liverpool stars past and present respond to the loss of Diogo Jota
Jul 03, 2025 at 09:08 AM EDT
Prince William and Princess Catherine pay tribute
Jul 03, 2025 at 08:47 AM EDT
Jurgen Klopp posts emotional tribute
Jurgen Klopp has posted an emotional tribute, saying he is "heartbroken" at the loss of the player he brought to Liverpool and with whom he formed a strong bond:
Jul 03, 2025 at 07:30 AM EDT
Scenes of mourning at Anfield
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Jul 03, 2025 at 07:28 AM EDT
The crash site in Spain
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred just after midnight local time. Forensic teams are currently examining the bodies of the victims, while firefighters were dispatched to combat the blaze that spread to nearby vegetation.
It remains unclear who was driving. Police are considering the possibility that the accident was caused by a blown tire during an attempt to overtake another vehicle.
The crash took place on a remote stretch of highway, roughly an hour west of Zamora, as the car was heading eastward.
Footage released by Spanish media shows tire marks leading off the road, toward torn guardrails, with the burnt-out car several meters ahead. Nearby vegetation appeared scorched by the spreading fire.
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Jul 03, 2025 at 07:23 AM EDT
Watch: Tributes to Liverpool star Diogo Jota
Jul 03, 2025 at 06:48 AM EDT
LeBron James: ‘You’ll never walk alone’
LeBron James, who is the part-owner of Fenway Sports Group, the holding company that owns Liverpool, has paid tribute to Jota on X:
Jul 03, 2025 at 06:28 AM EDT
Everton pays tribute to Jota
Jul 03, 2025 at 06:25 AM EDT
Cristiano Ronaldo: ‘It doesn’t make sense’
Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota's Portugal teammate, has written on X that his death "doesn't make sense":
It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the national team, and you had just gotten married. To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish you all the strength in the world. I know you'll always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We'll all miss you.
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Jul 03, 2025 at 06:16 AM EDT
Manchester City: ‘Everyone is shocked and saddened’
Jul 03, 2025 at 06:14 AM EDT
Fans begin laying flowers and tributes at Anfield
Liverpool fans have begun to gather at Anfield to lay flowers and tributes to Jota:
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Jul 03, 2025 at 05:59 AM EDT
Portugal PM: ‘It’s a sad day for football’
Portugal's prime minister, Luís Montenegro, has released a statement on the death of Diogo Jota and his brother and sent his "deepest condolences" to the family:
"The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured Portugal's name, and his brother is unexpected and tragic," he wrote.
"It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports," he added.
Jul 03, 2025 at 05:51 AM EDT
Diogo Jota for Liverpool: in pictures
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Jota joined Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool in September 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £41 million.
Over his five seasons at Liverpool, Jota made 182 appearances, scoring 65 goals. His performances were instrumental in Liverpool's domestic successes, including winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup.
Internationally, Jota earned 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 goals and playing a key role in their UEFA Nations League victories.
Jul 03, 2025 at 05:33 AM EDT
Clubs and UEFA pay tribute
Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton and UEFA have paid tribute to Jota:
Jul 03, 2025 at 05:29 AM EDT
Liverpool FC release statement
The club said they were devastated by the loss of Diogo Jota:
Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.
Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre'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.
Jul 03, 2025 at 05:23 AM EDT
Diogo Jota celebrated Liverpool’s Premier League win in May
Jota won the Premier League - his third major trophy with Liverpool in May.
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Jul 03, 2025 at 05:15 AM EDT
Stars express shock at tragic death of Diogo Jota and his brother
Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports presenter, wrote on X:
Gary Neville wrote on X: "That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother. All my love and best wishes to his family 💔"
Jul 03, 2025 at 05:10 AM EDT
Spanish Guardia Civil statement
Spanish police have issued their first statement on the tragic crash to the BBC:
"The information we have so far is that the car, which was a Lamborghini, was in a road traffic accident and left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking.
"It was in the early hours, 00:30 BST, in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora.
"The car caught on fire and the two occupants were killed."
Jul 03, 2025 at 05:08 AM EDT
Portugal pays tribute to the brothers: ‘We have lost two champions’
The Portugal football federation paid tribute on X. Jota won the UEFA Nations League last month, beating Spain in the final.
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The Portuguese Football Federation and the entire Portuguese football community are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, this morning in Spain.
Much more than a fantastic player, who played almost 50 times for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.
The Portuguese Football Federation expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Silva, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where the players played respectively.
The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute's silence this Thursday, before our team's match against Spain in the Women's European Championship.
We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and André Silva represents an irreparable loss for Portuguese football and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day.
Jul 03, 2025 at 04:59 AM EDT
FC Porto pays tribute
Writing on X, FC Porto, where Jota played while on loan from Athletico Madrid in 2016-17, paid tribute:
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.
Jul 03, 2025 at 04:49 AM EDT
Diogo Jota got married on June 22
The final post on Jota's account on the X social media platform showed his wedding day joy just two weeks before his sudden death in a car crash.
Jota married his longtime partner Rute Cardoso on June 22.
The pair had three young children together.
"Yes, forever," Jota wrote in the post, along with pictures from the ceremony.
Read in full: Diogo Jota's Tragic Last Social Media Post Shared Wedding Joy
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