The football world is reeling after Portuguese international and Liverpool FC striker Diogo Jota died in a horrific car crash in northern Spain, just two weeks after marrying the love of his life.
Jota (28) was travelling in his Lamborghini with his younger brother, fellow footballer André Silva (26) when the high-performance vehicle lost control and erupted in flames on a major highway in Zamora, near the Portuguese border, as the Daily Mail has reported. Both men were declared dead at the scene.
According to early reports, the accident occurred during an overtaking manoeuvre when one of the Lamborghini’s tyres is believed to have burst, sending the vehicle off the road before it exploded into flames. The incident unfolded on the A-52 motorway, a key transport route used by Portuguese travellers near the municipality of Cernadilla.
Spanish emergency services confirmed they received multiple distress calls just before the car ignited. Fire and medical crews rushed to the scene, but tragically, nothing could be done to save the two brothers.
‘A vehicle accident was reported at Km 65 of the A-52,’ read an official statement from the Castilla y León Emergency Coordination Centre. ‘A car had come off the road and was on fire. Medical staff confirmed two fatalities.’
Jota’s sudden death comes at a time of personal happiness. He had only recently tied the knot with Rute Cardoso, his childhood sweetheart and the mother of his three children, in a romantic wedding ceremony in Porto, Portugal. Just days ago, he called himself ‘the luckiest man alive’ in an interview celebrating his wedding.
The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed the heartbreaking news and paid tribute to the Liverpool forward, whose international career spanned nearly 50 caps.
‘Diogo Jota was more than a top-class player, he was a beacon of joy, a friend to many, and an inspiration to young players everywhere,’ said federation president Pedro Proença. ‘His loss, alongside his brother André, is a devastating blow to Portuguese football.’
UEFA has been asked to honour the brothers with a minute’s silence ahead of Portugal’s upcoming Women’s European Championship clash with Spain.
Jota, who began his professional career at Paços de Ferreira and rose to global fame with Wolverhampton Wanderers before moving to Anfield, was considered a vital figure for both club and country. His work rate, goal-scoring ability, and humility on and off the field earned him the admiration of fans worldwide.
As tributes pour in from across the globe, fans are left grappling with the shocking reality that one of football’s brightest stars is gone far too soon, just when his life seemed most complete.
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Picture: Julian Finney / Gallo Images
