Tributes pour in for Portugal's Diogo Jota after fatal crash
The football world is mourning the tragic loss of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident at age 28. The fatal crash occurred in Spain's Zamora province, claiming the lives of both Jota and his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva, a professional footballer for Portuguese club Penafiel.
Tragic Accident Details
According to Spanish authorities, the accident happened around 00:30 local time on Thursday when their Lamborghini suffered a tire blowout while overtaking another vehicle. Jota was reportedly traveling by car and ferry to return to Liverpool for pre-season training, having recently undergone minor surgery that prevented him from flying.
The tragedy struck just 11 days after Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children. The couple had celebrated their wedding in Porto, Portugal, with Jota making the same road-and-sea journey for the ceremony.
Football World Reacts
Liverpool FC released an emotional statement calling the loss "a tragedy that transcends the club." Manager Arne Slot described Jota as "the essence of what a Liverpool player should be," praising both his professional dedication and personal warmth.
The club's leadership expressed being "numb with grief," remembering Jota as "a wonderfully humble human being" with "a zest for life that was utterly contagious." Teammates including Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson shared heartfelt tributes, with Robertson recalling Jota's radiant happiness at his recent wedding.
Career Highlights
- Scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool
- Won FA Cup and League Cup (2022), Premier League title (2023)
- Previously played for Wolves (44 goals in 131 games), Porto, Atletico Madrid
- Earned 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 international goals
- His final match was Portugal's Nations League victory against Spain
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo expressed shock on social media: "It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the national team, you had just got married." Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who signed Jota in 2020, said he was "heartbroken" by the news.
Fan Tributes
Thousands of mourners gathered at Anfield to pay respects, leaving flowers, scarves, and memorabilia at the Hillsborough memorial. The club has opened physical and digital books of condolence, with the physical version available at Anfield through Sunday.
Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram captured the community's sentiment: "The success that he has helped bring to this city will never be forgotten."
Funeral services for Jota and his brother will be held Saturday in Porto, following a wake on Friday afternoon.
