Diogo Jota, 28, is dead following a car accident in Spain.
In a statement shared Thursday, Liverpool Football Club confirmed that both Diogo and his brother, 25-year-old André Silva, also a footballer, died in the accident.
“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,” a club rep said. “The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre. 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.”
Per a report from the Associated Press, citing the Spanish Civil Guard, Jota and Silva were killed near the Zamora area when the Lamborghini they were in “veered off a road and burst into flames.” The brothers were the only ones inside the vehicle at the time, with no other cars believed to have been involved. For now, who, exactly, was driving the vehicle remains unconfirmed, though an investigation into the accident is in progress.
Dr. Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, said he and the entire organization were “completely devastated” by news of Diogo and André’s deaths. In a statement, Proença remembered Jota, specifically, as a “fantastic player” and “extraordinary person” with “a contagious joy.”
In June, Jota announced his marriage to Rute Cardoso. The longtime couple, who shared three children together, commemorated their marriage as “a day we will never forget” in a joint Instagram update on Wednesday.
Among those quick to pay tribute to Diogo, a Premier League victor, was fellow Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo. In a statement shared to X, Ronaldo reflected on having recently seen Jota, adding that his death “doesn’t make sense.” Ronaldo also sent condolences to Jota’s family, telling fans he wished them “all the strength in the world” moving forward.
See more tributes from the football world below.
RIP.
