Spanish Authorities Respond After Reports of Diogo Jota and Brother’s Death in Car Crash
Spanish authorities have issued an official statement following widespread reports that Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has tragically died in a car accident.
Shocking reports from Spanish and Portuguese media on Thursday morning indicated that Jota and his brother were killed in a crash in the Zamora region of northwestern Spain.
The 28-year-old was reportedly involved in the fatal incident around 1:30 a.m. local time.
Emergency responders—including the Traffic Civil Guard, Fire Brigade, the Medical Emergency Unit (UME), and medical staff from the Mombuey Health Center—were dispatched to the scene, where they confirmed the deaths of two individuals.
Shortly after the incident, the Zamora Provincial Council released a statement confirming key details.
Their message read:
“Two young individuals lost their lives in a collision on the A-52 near Palacios de Sanabria.
Firefighters from the Rionegro del Puente station (Northern Zone of the @DiputacionZA Consortium) responded to the emergency.
The vehicle ignited upon impact, and the flames spread to nearby vegetation.
The victims were aged 28 and 26. Rest in peace.”
The heartbreaking news comes just weeks after Jota married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children.
Further information from the Guardia Civil—the Spanish national police—revealed that the vehicle, identified as a Lamborghini, veered off the road after suffering a tire blowout while overtaking another car.
The crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. BST in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. The vehicle caught fire, and both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
When asked for confirmation, the Guardia Civil identified the victims as the footballer Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva.
Later that morning, the Portuguese Football Federation released a statement expressing deep sorrow:
“The Portuguese Football Federation and the entire football community in Portugal are heartbroken over the loss of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a tragic incident this morning in Spain.
“Beyond his remarkable football career, which included nearly 50 appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an exceptional human being—admired by teammates and rivals alike for his infectious energy and character. He was a true role model in his community.
“On behalf of myself and the Federation, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André, and also to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs they represented.
“We have requested that UEFA hold a minute’s silence before today’s Women’s European Championship match between Portugal and Spain in their honor.
“Portuguese Football has lost two champions. Their absence is an irreparable loss, and we are committed to preserving and celebrating their legacy moving forward.”
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