Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his younger brother André Silva were killed in a devastating car crash early Thursday morning, July 3, in northwestern Spain. The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. local time (2230 GMT) in Zamora province, when the Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off the road, flipped over, and burst into flames. According to police reports, a burst tyre while overtaking may have caused the crash.
Jota, who had recently celebrated winning the Premier League with Liverpool, had just married his long-time partner Rute Cardoso in late June. The couple shared three children. “My dream came true,” Rute wrote on Instagram after their wedding.
Tributes have poured in from across the football world and beyond. Heartbroken fans gathered outside Anfield to lay flowers and mourn the Portuguese star. Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who signed Jota in 2020, expressed his grief online: “This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it!”
UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said, “His passion, energy, and spirit on the field inspired everyone around him. It is devastating to think that a life so full of joy and potential has been taken far too soon.”
Jota’s brother, André Silva, who also died in the crash, played for Portuguese second-division side Penafiel.
During his time at Liverpool, Diogo Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances, helping the club secure the FA Cup in 2022, the League Cup in both 2022 and 2024, and the Premier League title in the 2024–25 season. His memorable goal in the Merseyside derby against Everton helped secure that title, cementing his place in the hearts of fans.
Jota’s sudden passing leaves a profound void not only in football, but also in the lives of his family, teammates, and supporters around the world.
