Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota tragically died in a car accident in Spain on July 3, 2025, at the age of 28. His 25-year-old brother, Andre Silva, a professional footballer with Liga Portugal 2 side Penafiel, was also killed in the accident.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:30 am local time on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, Zamora, when the vehicle Jota and his brother were traveling in left the road and caught fire after a suspected burst tire while overtaking another car.
Jota had recently married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, less than two weeks ago, and the couple has three children together. Liverpool Football Club expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating, “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.”
Tributes have poured in from the football community, including from Wolves, where Jota spent three years, and from his teammate Darwin Nunez. Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo also paid tribute, saying, “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.”
A wake will take place in Gondomar, near Porto in Portugal, on Friday afternoon, followed by a funeral on Saturday at 10 am. Jota’s death has sent shockwaves through the football world, with many paying tribute to his exceptional talent and kind personality
