What We Know So Far About Diogo Jota’s Tragic Car Accident in Spain
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has tragically died in a car crash in Spain alongside his brother, Andre Silva. The accident occurred during the early hours of Thursday near Zamora, in the northwest region of the country, as first reported by Spanish agency EFE.
The 28-year-old recently married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, on June 22. The couple shared three children. Jota had spent five seasons at Liverpool after transferring from Wolves in 2020.
Details of the Crash
Initial reports indicate that Jota and his brother were traveling along the A-52 highway near Cernadilla when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames. Witnesses immediately contacted emergency services, describing the vehicle as engulfed in fire, which also spread to nearby vegetation.
According to the Guardia Civil, preliminary investigations suggest that a tire blowout during an overtaking maneuver caused the vehicle to leave the roadway before it caught fire. El Mundo noted the vehicle was headed toward Benavente at around 12:40 a.m. local time.
Official Statements from Authorities
The Guardia Civil confirmed the identities of the victims and reiterated that the car crash was caused by a suspected tire blowout. Their statement read:
“The vehicle, a Lamborghini, was involved in a traffic incident while overtaking and went off the road. The crash occurred at 00:30 BST in Cernadilla, Zamora. The car caught fire, resulting in the deaths of both occupants.”
The emergency services of Castilla y León also released a statement confirming multiple calls about a vehicle fire at kilometer 65 on the A-52. Firefighters, emergency medics, and traffic police were dispatched, and medics confirmed the deaths of both individuals at the scene.
Liverpool’s Response
Liverpool FC expressed deep sorrow in an official statement:
“We are devastated by the tragic loss of Diogo Jota. The club has been informed that the 28-year-old passed away in a road accident in Spain, along with his brother Andre.
Liverpool will not be making any further comments at this time and requests privacy for the families and all those affected. We will continue to offer our full support to them during this incredibly difficult time.”
Following the announcement, Liverpool cleared all content from their website homepage, leaving only tributes to the victims of past disasters—Hillsborough and Heysel.
Tributes Pour In
The Portuguese Football Federation released a heartfelt statement, requesting UEFA observe a minute of silence before Portugal’s Women’s Euro match against Spain. Federation president Pedro Proença wrote:
“On behalf of the FPF, I extend our deepest sympathies to the families of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva, and to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel. Their deaths are an immense loss to Portuguese football, and we will continue to honor their legacy.”
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville shared his condolences on social media, writing:
“Heartbreaking news about Diogo Jota and his brother. My love and thoughts go out to their family.”
Jota’s former club FC Porto expressed shock and sorrow:
“FC Porto is in mourning. We send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva, who was also once part of our youth teams. Rest in peace.”
Ruben Neves, a former teammate at both Wolves and Portugal, posted:
“They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you.”
Jota Beyond Football
Outside of football, Jota was passionate about snooker and attended this year’s World Snooker Championship at the Crucible. The World Snooker Tour paid tribute, saying:
“We are devastated to hear of Diogo Jota’s tragic passing. He was a true fan of snooker, and we were honored to welcome him at the Crucible. Our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.”
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