Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva lost their lives in a car accident in Spain on Thursday. The incident occurred in the municipality of Cernadilla in northwestern Zamora province.The Civil Guard reported that the vehicle went off the motorway and caught fire after midnight. The accident happened due to a tire blowout during an overtaking attempt.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Everything points to the blowout of a tyre while it (the vehicle) was overtaking,” the Civil Guard said in a statement. “The car was burned out, and they died inside,” Angel Blanco, the central government’s representative in Zamora, told reporters.Local media showed images of the burned remains of Jota’s Lamborghini. Scorched debris and burn marks were visible on the motorway verge.Jota had recently married Rute Cardoso on June 22 and posted their wedding video on Instagram hours before the accident. The couple had three children.Why was Jota driving and not flying to England?
Diogo Jota in a file photo. (Getty Images)
According to Portuguese and UK media, Jota was traveling to Santander to take a ferry to England, avoiding air travel due to medical advice following a recent lung operation. As per Portuguese journalist Rui Laura, Jota was planning on continuing his journey to Liverpool by road after arriving in England via ferry. Fellow journalist Victor Pinto added that Jota occasionally avoided flying because of recurring but non-serious pulmonary discomfort.Tributes paid to Jota
Cristiano Ronaldo shared an emotional message after Diogo Jota’s tragic car crash death in Spain.
Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his grief on X platform about Jota’s death, which occurred shortly after his marriage and their UEFA Nations League victory with Portugal.“We will all miss you,” Ronaldo wrote.“We have lost two champions. The death of Diogo and Andre Silva are irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything possible to honour their legacy every day,” Portuguese football federation president Pedro Proenca wrote on social media.Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp shared his heartbreak on Instagram, while the club expressed their sorrow over the unimaginable loss. Current manager Arne Slot remembered Jota as a unique human being and friend to everyone.
Football fans stand near tributes in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota at Anfield. (AP)
Liverpool fans gathered at Anfield stadium to pay tributes with shirts, scarves, flowers, balloons, photographs, and banners.Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro acknowledged Jota’s contribution in bringing honour to the country.“We are heartbroken. Diogo was adored by our fans, loved by his teammates and cherished by everyone who worked with him… the memories he created will never be forgotten,” Wolves said.UEFA announced that all Women’s Euro 2025 matches would observe moments of silence on Thursday and Friday. Portugal and Spain already held a silence before their match in Switzerland.The funeral is scheduled for Saturday at a church in Gondomar, a Porto suburb, according to Portuguese news agency Lusa.
