Liverpool and Portuguese football have been rocked by the tragic death of Diogo Jota, who passed away at the age of 28 after a fatal car accident in northern Spain.
The forward, who had recently married his longtime partner Rute Cardoso, was traveling with his younger brother, fellow footballer André Silva, 26, when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames.
The fatal incident happened in the early hours of Thursday on the A-52 highway, a key route near the Spanish city of Zamora, approximately 70 miles from Valladolid.
Initial reports suggest that the luxury car’s tyre may have blown out while overtaking, causing it to leave the road, flip, and ignite.
Both Jota and his brother were pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency services in Castilla and León confirmed the crash in a statement released shortly after 12:30 a.m., “The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire.”
The response involved the Zamora Traffic Police, fire crews from the Provincial Council, and medical personnel from the Mombuey Health Center.
“1-1-2 notified the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU) of this accident.
“From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center were sent, who confirmed the death of two people on the scene.”
Jota’s death comes just two weeks after he tied the knot with Rute, the mother of his three children, in a ceremony in his hometown of Porto. He had described himself as the “luckiest man in the world” to be her husband.
“Tributes have since poured in, with the Portuguese national team expressing their heartbreak, “The Portuguese national football team have said they are ‘devastated’ by the death of Liverpool forward Diogo, adding that he ‘was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person who was respected by all his teammates and opponents’.”
Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, officially confirmed the news and extended heartfelt condolences:
“The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, this morning, in Spain.
“Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 internationalizations for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.”
“On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, lined up the players.”
“The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute’s silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women’s European Championship.”
“Lost to two champs. The disappearance of Diogo and Andre Silva represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to, daily, honor their legacy.”
