Liverpool soccer star Diogo Jota has died in a car crash in Spain along with his younger brother, the Portuguese Football Federation confirmed.
Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 26, were killed when their car crashed on the A-52 highway near Cernadilla in northwestern Spain overnight on Thursday. According to Spain’s Guardia Civil, the vehicle suffered a tire blowout while overtaking, left the road, and caught fire. Both men died at the scene.
Emergency crews were called around 12:30 a.m., with firefighters battling flames that had spread to nearby vegetation. Local officials in Zamora province confirmed the deaths of two young men, aged 28 and 26.
In a statement, the Portuguese Football Federation expressed its devastation: “The Portuguese Football Federation and all Portuguese football are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva this morning in Spain. Much more than a fantastic player with nearly 50 caps for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by colleagues and adversaries, someone with contagious joy and a reference in his community.”
Jota had married Rute Cardoso just two weeks ago. The couple has three children.
Born in Porto, Portugal, Jota began his professional career at Paços de Ferreira before moving to Atlético Madrid. He had loan spells at Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers, helping Wolves earn promotion to the Premier League.
In 2020, he signed for Liverpool, where he won the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup. Last season, he contributed six goals and four assists in 26 appearances during Liverpool’s title-winning campaign.
Internationally, Jota earned 49 caps for Portugal and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Nations League in 2019.
His brother, André Silva, played for Penafiel in Portugal’s second division.