The soccer world is in shock and mourning following the tragic death of Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota in a car crash in Spain early Thursday morning. He was just 28.
The accident also claimed the life of his brother, André Silva, a former professional footballer, who was 25. The timing made the tragedy even more heartrending, as Jota had married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, less than two weeks prior. The couple shared three young children.
The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. local time on the A-52 road in Zamora, northwestern Spain, reportedly caused by a burst tire while overtaking, according to the Guardia Civil. The vehicle, reported to be a Lamborghini, veered off the road and caught fire. Authorities have not confirmed which brother was driving.
Spanish investigators identified the remains through documents recovered at the scene and the car’s license plate, with forensic tests at a morgue in Zamora confirming the identities. The remains were then transferred to Puebla de Sanabria, where the family finalized administrative procedures to return the brothers to Portugal.
The crash is being investigated as a possible speeding incident, according to a source from the Government Sub-delegation in Zamora.
A wake for Jota and André Silva began Friday morning at the Igreja Martiz de Gondomar in the brothers’ hometown near Porto, with public visitation scheduled for the afternoon. The funeral is set for Saturday at 10 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET).
On the field, Diogo Jota was a key figure for Liverpool, helping the club secure the Premier League title just over two months ago and equaling the English record of 20 top-flight championships.
In the 2023–24 season, he played 26 league games, scoring six goals and providing four assists. Across five years with Liverpool, he netted 65 goals, winning one FA Cup and two EFL Cups. He also played a role in Portugal’s national team, winning the Nations League this June and previously in 2019.
André Silva played for Futebol Clube de Penafiel in Liga Portugal 2, Portugal’s second division, scoring 12 goals and contributing 10 assists in 105 appearances at full and youth levels.
Tributes poured in from the soccer world and beyond. Cristiano Ronaldo called his compatriot’s death “does not make sense,” while former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp sent “prayers, thoughts and power” to the family.
Current Liverpool manager Arne Slot reflected, “When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.”
Condolences also came from outside soccer, including NBA star LeBron James and the United Kingdom’s Prince William, who said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss.
