Liverpool forward, Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28 in a car accident in Zamora, Spain.
Jota had been travelling with his brother, Andre Silva on a road trip back to Liverpool for pre-season when their Lamborghini reportedly left the road in Zamora due to a tyre blow-out whilst overtaking another vehicle, and subsequently caught fire with both siblings declared dead at circa 00:30pm CEST (23:30pm UK Time).
Silva was also a professional footballer who pried his trade in Portugal’s second-tier with Penafiel.
Their deaths were officially announced by Portugal’s FA on their social media channels in which the FA expressed “deepest condolences” to family, friends and both clubs.
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Spain’s Guardia Civil issued a brief statement about the incident.
“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.”
Liverpool issued a brief statement in which the club confirmed that they won’t comment on the matter and are instead focused on providing support to everyone affected within the club plus Jota’s family.
“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.”
Former Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp posted a tribute on Instagram in which he spoke of his shock and heartbreak at the news.
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Liverpool teammate, Darwin Nunez in an Instagram tribute vowed to remember Jota for his “smile” and “as a good teammate on and off the field.”
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UEFA President, Aleksander Čeferin issued a personal tribute to Jota as he reflected on his last meeting with Jota which came as Portugal won the UEFA Nations League in early June.
“Just three weeks ago, I had the honour of presenting Diogo Jota with a medal after the UEFA Nations League final – a moment of joy, pride, and celebration that will now forever be burned in memory with sorrow.
“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. Rest in peace, dear Diogo. You will not be forgotten.”
Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa released a public statement expressing his sadness at the news and proceeded to praise Jota for his role in Portugal’s Nations League success.
“Diogo Jota represented Portuguese football at the highest level and demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication as part of a generation that has taken Portuguese football to the highest level.
“The president sends his deepest condolences to his family, friends and professional colleagues for a loss that has dismayed all Portuguese.”
De Sousa’s statement was followed by an address from Portugal’s Prime Minister, Luis Montenegro who praised Jota for his representation of his home country.
“The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured the name of Portugal, and of his brother is unexpected and tragic. I send the family my deepest condolences. It’s a sad day for football and for national and international sport.”
Portugal’s all-time top-goalscorer, Cristiano Ronaldo expressed disbelief at the news in a personal statement on his social media channels.
“It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten 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 will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.”
His former team, Wolves expressed devastation at Jota’s tragic death in a tribute on their social media channels.
“We are heartbroken. Diogo was adored by our fans, loved by his teammates and cherished by everyone who worked with him during his time at Wolves. The memories he created will never be forgotten.
“Our hearts go out to the family, friends and loved ones of Diogo and his brother, Andre. You will be truly missed, and always remembered.”
Wolves’ Chairman, Jeff Shi subsequently released a detailed tribute to “a top player” who had “a very positive and optimistic” attitude, and could of gone to become a CEO or entrepreneur beyond his footballing career.
“Diogo was a top player and, for me, one of the top three players in the whole 10 years that Fosun and I have been here.
“But he was also a nice boy who was very warm, very nice and always understanding, but he was also demanding. As a top player, you sometimes have to demand your teammates to do well, and although he was never a player on the pitch to shout, you could always see what he wanted from you.
“He was a very positive and optimistic guy and he could even give the chairman confidence, but he was a guy with very clear ideas. He was smart, intelligent and also very decisive in his actions. I feel he had the potential to become a very good CEO or entrepreneur in the future because he was very clear with what he wanted to do.
“Diogo will be sorely missed by everyone here at Wolves and our thoughts go out to his family and friends.”
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino paid tribute to Jota’s “fantastic career” in a press statement, whilst he reflected on Silva’s development at Penafiel too.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva. Aged just 28, Diogo had enjoyed a fantastic career to date and had many great years ahead of him, while his brother André was thriving at FC Penafiel – they will both be so sorely missed by all those who knew them and by the worldwide football community.
“On behalf of FIFA and the wider football family, my thoughts are with their family and friends, as well as everyone at Liverpool FC, FC Penafiel and the Portuguese Football Federation. May they rest in peace.”
Jota’s death comes just weeks after he married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso in late June and he leaves behind three children.
Jota began his career at Pacos de Ferreira where he graduated into their senior team and scored 15 goals in 45 appearances before he moved to Atletico Madrid in July 2016, but he failed to make a single appearance for the La Liga club.
He instead spent 2016-17 season on loan at Porto before he moved to Wolves on an initial loan the following season where he managed 44 goals in 131 appearances across three seasons, and helped the club get promoted as Championship champions in his first season at Molineux.
A move to Liverpool followed in September 2020 where Jota went on to score 65 goals in 182 appearances, during which he achieved a FA Cup and Carabao Cup double with the Reds in 2021-22 season followed by a second title in the latter competition in 23-24 season.
Jota most recently was part of Liverpool’s second title-winning Premier League team last season, with his final-ever goal having come as a 57th-minute winner against Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield. .
Jota represented Portugal at international level where he netted 14 goals in 49 appearances between 2019 – 25, during which he helped his country win the UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025 respectively.
‘hard to find the right words’
Jota’s Liverpool teammates steadily paid their own tributes to him on Instagram with Italian, Federico Chiesa summing up the world’s mood as he spoke of finding it ‘hard to find the right words’ to process the tragedy, with the squad set to meet up on Monday 7 July for pre-season.
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