Liverpool striker Diogo Jota has tragically died in a car accident in Spain at the age of 28. The incident also claimed the life of his younger brother, Andre Silva, aged 26, who was a professional footballer with Liga Portugal 2 side Penafiel. The crash occurred at approximately 12:30 am local time on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, Zamora. Reports indicate that the vehicle left the road and caught fire after a tyre burst while overtaking another car.
Jota had recently celebrated his marriage to his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, less than two weeks ago. The couple had three children together. The Liverpool forward joined the club in 2020 from Wolves, where he had initially been on loan before making a permanent move in 2018. During his time at Liverpool, Jota made over 180 appearances and played a key role in the club’s recent successes, including winning the Premier League in the 2024-25 season, as well as the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in 2022.
Liverpool Football Club expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating, “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, team-mates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.” Okay.ng reports.
The Portuguese football community is also mourning. Porto, where both brothers had played during their youth, conveyed their condolences: “Porto is in mourning. It is with shock and deep regret that we send our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who was also our youth player. May they rest in peace.”
Former Liverpool defender and pundit Jamie Carragher shared his grief on social media: “Devastating news about Diogo Jota and his brother Andre this morning. Thoughts are with every one of their family and friends, especially his wife Rute and their three lovely kids.” Fellow pundit Gary Neville added, “That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother. All my love and best wishes to his family.”
The Portuguese Football Federation released a statement highlighting Jota’s impact on the sport and his character: “Far beyond being an exceptional player, with nearly 50 caps for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all team-mates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference within his own community. On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where the players, respectively, performed. We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and Andre Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to honour their legacy daily.” The federation also requested a minute of silence ahead of Portugal’s Women’s Euros match against Spain.
Jota’s career began in Portugal at Pacos de Ferreira before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2016. Although he never played for Atletico’s first team, he was loaned to Porto and then Wolves, where he eventually signed permanently. Under Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves, Jota developed further before his transfer to Liverpool in 2020. He was part of Liverpool’s squad that reached the 2021/22 Champions League final and was a key player in Portugal’s national team, participating in Euro 2022 and Euro 2024, and winning the Nations League twice.
