Jürgen Klopp has expressed his devastation over the sudden and tragic death of Diogo Jota, describing himself as “heartbroken” following the fatal car crash that claimed the lives of the former Liverpool and Wolves forward and his younger brother, André Silva.
The fatal accident occurred at around 12:30 a.m. local time on Thursday in Zamora, in northwestern Spain. The brothers were traveling in a Lamborghini when a tyre burst as they overtook another vehicle, causing the car to veer off the road and catch fire on the A-52 near Cernadilla—just 10 miles from the Portuguese border, according to the Guardia Civil.
Portuguese media reported that the brothers were en route to Santander to board a ferry to the UK. CNN Portugal’s sports editor Rui Loura explained on-air that Jota had recently undergone lung surgery and had been advised not to fly, leading him to travel by car and ferry to return to Liverpool.
The heartbreaking incident occurred only 11 days after Jota married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, in a ceremony in Porto.
On Thursday, former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp took to Instagram to post an emotional message honoring both Diogo and André. “This is a moment where I struggle,” he wrote. “There must be a bigger purpose—but I can’t see it. I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother André. Diogo was not only a fantastic footballer, but also a great friend, a devoted husband, and a loving father.”
He continued: “We will miss you so much. All my prayers, thoughts, and strength go to Rute, the children, the family, friends, and everyone who loved them. Rest in peace – Love, J.”
Liverpool FC and tributes from the football world
Liverpool Football Club released a formal statement confirming the tragic news and offered their full support to the family. “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 ask that the family’s privacy be respected as they come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.”
Several teammates, including Darwin Núñez and Stefan Bajčetić, also paid tribute to Jota online.
FC Porto, where both brothers spent part of their youth careers, also expressed their grief: “FC Porto is in mourning. It is with great sadness and shock that we send our condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva. Rest in peace.”
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and made a significant impact, scoring 65 goals in all competitions. He played a key role in Liverpool’s recent successes, including this year’s Premier League title win and the FA Cup and EFL Cup triumphs in 2022.
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