It doesn't make sense – Cristiano Ronaldo leads tributes to Diogo Jota
Não faz sentido. Ainda agora estávamos juntos na Seleção, ainda agora tinhas casado. À tua familia, à tua mulher e aos teus filhos, envio os meus sentimentos e desejo-lhes toda a força do mundo. Sei que estarás sempre com eles. Descansem em Paz, Diogo e André. Vamos todos sentir… pic.twitter.com/H1qSTvPoQs
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) July 3, 2025
Ronaldo said in a post on X alongside a photo of Jota: 'It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married.
'To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.'
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also paid tribute to Jota, saying on Sky Sports News: 'Just in a state of shock. Not with anyone associated to Liverpool but football in general. It is one of the few times when the football family all come together.
Jamie Carragher paid tributes to Diogo Jota (Mike Egerton/PA)
'I just cannot believe it. For everybody involved but especially his family – his wife and the children they've got, it's devastating for all involved.
'I can only imagine how his team-mates feel at Liverpool and Portugal, they must be in a world of pain with his friends and family.
'It just shows us all how quickly life can change. What a summer he's had, and you get this devastating news that his family have had in the last few hours, you can't even comprehend it.'
Atlético de Madrid is shocked by the tragic news of the passing of former club player Diogo Jota and his brother André. We send our deepest condolences to their family and loved ones. May they rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/gbYbKgRIWD
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) July 3, 2025
Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves posted on their Instagram stories following the announcement of their former Wolves team-mate's death.
Mexico striker Jimenez, now at Fulham, said: 'It's hard to receive this kind of news, and I still can't believe it.
'An excellent colleague, friend, and above all, a great father. Thanks for everything, my friend. We'll always remember you.'
Jota's Portuguese compatriot Neves said: 'They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget them.'
My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA JOTA!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️ https://t.co/B3tYVJJxkA
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 3, 2025
Jota's former clubs Porto and Atletico Madrid also took to social media. Porto said on X they were in 'mourning' in a statement, while Atletico added they were 'shocked by the tragic news'.
Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville wrote on X: 'That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother. All my love and best wishes to his family.'
NBA great and well-known Liverpool supporter LeBron James posted on X: 'My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA (You'll Never Walk Alone) JOTA!!'
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The Guardian
8 minutes ago
- The Guardian
González's double inspires Spain to emphatic Euro 2025 win over Portugal
The minute's silence was immaculate, poignant, loaded and ultimately broke into applause. 'Rest in peace Diogo Jota,' spelled a series of cards held up behind Inês Pereira's goal; the air was thick with emotion in those moments before kick-off and one of the first things to say is that Portugal's players deserve the highest admiration for turning out to compete. They may not have shared a dressing room with Jota or his equally mourned brother, André Silva, but that cannot minimise the fact two members of their nation's tightly-knit footballing family had been taken away in devastating circumstances. It took guts and no little honour to show up and keep running, probing, scrapping, hunting for moments to take pride in while their opponents left no doubt that they are runaway favourites for this competition. Spain should be lauded, too, for resisting any temptation to go easy, starting at a rattling pace and completing a thoroughly professional job. In their case that often means administering a sound beating and there is no escaping that they delivered one here. They settled for five, Cristina Martín-Prieto adding late gloss, and could strike further fear into their rivals by giving a brief runout to Aitana Bonmatí. But the night's awful context was always hanging, the heartbreaking fate of Portugal's lost star a visual presence in the form of placards held among the fans. 'You took the name of Portugal beyond borders,' read a tribute hung from the upper tier of the west stand. 'Now it is our turn to raise your name.' Francisco Neto, the Portugal manager, did that himself after the match. He explained that he had coached Jota during a spell as assistant coach of the men's under-19 side; the pair had remained on warm terms and Jota, true to every account of his personality, had taken a close interest in the fortunes of the women's team. 'Today is a really sad day because two of us lost their lives so young,' Neto said. 'It's not a good day. If we had the chance to change everything, of course we would. 'Diogo followed our team because he loved the country. We kept in contact. When we would cross the room and see the men's team, I would talk with him and he always knew our results. He knew the team, the players, and this is the culture we have in Portugal.' Jota embodied Portugal's roaming, joyful, acutely accomplished football spirit. It is a matter of time before their women's team, hoping for a first knockout spot this summer, produces heroes with his staying power. The Barcelona forward Kika Nazareth, a safe bet to be among them, was not deemed fit enough to start but would have been hard pressed to shift the dial. Even before tragedy visited them, opening their tournament against Spain looked the tallest of orders. The improving condition of Bonmatí, who had caused widespread concern by contracting viral meningitis, bodes well for Spain although she requires handling with care. They should be able to ramp up without her, although this became a welcome opportunity to taper down. Montse Tomé's team had scored 11 times in two Nations League ties against Portugal in April; here they were two up within seven minutes and, in mid-20s heat, could run through the hits when it suited thereafter. It took under 90 seconds for Esther González, found by a raking pass from the left-back Olga Carmona, to tame the ball smartly before improvising a deft finish past Pereira. The second quickly followed, Mariona Caldentey snaking a tantalising low cross from the other side and seeing the 18-year-old Vicky López convert at full stretch. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Portugal assembled into a huddle after López's goal. They hung in admirably, Pereira saving from González and twice from Clàudia Pina. Between those chances Alexia Putellas sidefooted wide, but she would join in four minutes before half-time after a shimmy past Diana Gomes. González quickly doubled her tally, Pina's cross striking the far post and presenting the simplest finish. It was no slight on Portugal that the favourites were impossible to subdue. The livewire Jessica Silva, among the players who made tributes to Jota on Instagram, symbolised Portugal's appetite to persist. After the interval she tried to catch Adriana Nanclares out and then, blazing past Laia Aleixandri, forced a booking. A goal would have raised the roof and it almost came when Ana Capeta jabbed over. In the end Martín-Prieto had the last word but only one figure had, in truth, dominated thoughts all day. Portugal had been backed fabulously, their contingent largely culled from an extensive émigré community, and faced their most vocal bank of supporters together after the final whistle. They lined up behind a banner printed with 'Thank you for everything, Diogo Jota', the two groups acknowledging one another for an extended spell. They will never need telling to elevate his memory.
The Independent
12 minutes ago
- The Independent
Diogo Jota death latest: Liverpool manager Slot says footballer was ‘friend to everyone' after fatal car crash
Liverpool FC's manager has issued an emotional statement after the team's forward Diogo Jota was killed in a car crash alongside his brother. Arne Slot said he 'has no words' to describe pain after Jota's death, as he paid tribute to the 28-year-old as a 'friend to everyone'. The footballer had been travelling in a Lamborghini with his brother Andre Silva when the car veered off the road and burst into flames following what police suspect was a tyre blowout while overtaking. The pair were found dead on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. The incident happened just 11 days after Jota, a father of three, married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, in Porto, Portugal. According to BBC Sport, Jota was returning for pre-season training next week via ferry after being advised not to fly following minor surgery. Tributes are flooding in for the pair from vast numbers of former players, clubs, sporting figures, and footballing fans, who just months earlier witnessed Jota win his first Premier League title. In a heartfelt tribute, Cristiano Ronaldo said the death of his Portugal teammate 'doesn't make sense'. 'We will all miss you,' he added.
The Herald Scotland
14 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash in Spain
Two men, aged 28 and 26, were found dead in the car, which burst into flames near Zamora, the capital of the Zamora province, which is in the Castile and Leon region. "We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day," the Portuguese Football Federation said in a statement. Spanish police told Reuters they could not yet officially confirm the names of the deceased, but everything pointed to it being Jota and his brother. The Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off the road, the spokesperson said. The bodies have been taken to a forensics unit in Zamora, where autopsies will be performed, they said. Who was Diogo Jota? Jota, who got married in June, helped Liverpool win the Premier League last season and also won the FA Cup and League Cup with the Merseyside outfit. Jota and his wife just had their third baby on November 26, according to posts made on Instagram. "He just won the Prem, Nations League, and got married all within a month," wrote one user on Instagram. "And his life has been cut short. RIP" Jota arrived at Anfield, Liverpool's football [soccer] club, from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club in all competitions. "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota," the club wrote in a post on X. He also made 49 appearances for Portugal, twice winning the UEFA Nations League. Contributing: Reuters
