Liverpool soccer star Diogo Jota killed in car crash in Spain, police say
The Guardia Civil confirmed in a statement that the 28-year-old star and his brother, André Silva, also a professional soccer player, died after a car crash in the Zamora region at 12:30 a.m.
"In the absence of a conclusion of the experts evidence, everything points that a car left the road, due to a tire blowout while overtaking," the police said. The car set on fire and both vehicle occupants were killed by the accident, the statement added.
The Portuguese national team paid tribute to Jota in a statement on X.
"Far beyond being an exceptional player, with nearly 50 caps for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference within his own community," it said.
The Provincial Council of Zamora said in a statement on X — which didn't name Jota — that a 28-year-old and a 26-year-old were killed in an accident early Thursday.
According to Jota's social media accounts, he got married to his long-term girlfriend, Rute Cardoso, just 10 days ago. The couple had three children together.
Social media was flooded with tributes from Liverpool fans who expressed support for his wife and children.
With the full name Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, Jota was a talented player who made 182 total appearances and scored 65 goals for Liverpool, becoming a key part of the championship-winning team of 2024-25. He also played 49 times for the Portuguese national team.
"We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and André Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese Football, and we will do everything to honor their legacy daily," the Portuguese national team's statement said.
A skillful forward blessed with pace, great balance and dribbling ability, Jota was sought by a number of top European teams when he moved from England's Wolverhampton Wanderers to Liverpool for a total fee of 45 million pounds ($61.5 million) in 2020.
Jota played for Portuguese team Paços de Ferreira and Spain's Atletico Madrid before leaving for the English Premier League. One of this former teams, FC Porto, said it was in mourning.
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The Guardian
17 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘Truly awful': rival fans united in grief at Anfield after death of Diogo Jota
Outside Anfield, where Diogo Jota's name recently soared from the stands, fans stood in a sombre, stricken silence. Barely five weeks ago they had watched their Portuguese hero lift the Premier League trophy, singing and dancing with his soon-to-be wife, their two sons, four and two, and their six-month-old daughter. Now, in a tragedy that puts the fleeting glories of football into shocking perspective, fans were laying floral tributes. 'It's just devastating,' said Gary Mann, 48, a season ticket holder, as he struggled to contain his emotions. 'He's a 28-year-old kid. He just always came across as a really nice human being – and that's the worst part of it. It's tremendously sad for his family.' Men, women and children were in tears as they hung scarves from trees and laid football shirts alongside an ever-growing bank of flowers outside Liverpool's main stand in the hours after Jota's death was announced on Thursday morning. Balloons bearing the number 20 – Jota's shirt number – were among the tributes, with several fans asking for the club to retire the number in his memory. 'He was an honorary scouser,' said Elliot Francis, 19, wearing his Liverpool jersey with Jota's autograph on the back, signed by the Kop favourite after one of the many home games when he would stop and talk to supporters. Jota's death – in a car crash in Spain alongside his 26-year-old brother, André Silva – is one of those shocking events that cuts through club rivalry and transcends football. Everton shirts were among those laid alongside those of Liverpool, Leeds United, Glasgow Rangers, Crystal Palace and other clubs opposite Anfield's Hillsborough memorial, dedicated to the 97 killed in the 1989 stadium disaster. 'My stomach turned this morning when I heard the news,' said Liza, 47, who would be raising eyebrows by wearing her Everton shirt at Anfield on any other day. 'It's not about that today. It's horrible for Liverpool fans and for the city. It's just absolutely heartbreaking.' In just the past six weeks, Jota had lifted the Premier League title with Liverpool and the Uefa Nations League trophy with Portugal. Two months ago he scored the winner in a tense home derby against Everton – his final goal. But it was the personal tragedy, rather than the onfield heroics, that left fans dumbstruck on Thursday. Jota married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, only 11 days ago, posting a video of their wedding on social media on Wednesday, along with the caption: 'A day we will never forget.' 'He had only just got married and had kids. Now his wife's a widow. It's truly awful,' said Anthony Ferns, 43. 'I live 10 minutes away and rushed over when I heard the news. I still can't believe it. It's like something from a disaster movie.' After laying down a Leeds United shirt, Maz Ferguson said she last saw Jota scoring two goals at Anfield against her club. 'But he was a player that you liked,' she said. 'He's gone out at the height of his career but football's irrelevant. He's got a wife and three young children, a mum and a dad who've just lost two sons.' Ferguson, 34, a lifelong Leeds fan, added: 'If any club has been through everything it's this club but Liverpool fans will come together for Diogo's family. This club knows how to put its arms around people.' Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, said she was 'absolutely devastated' for Jota's family after she laid a large red-and-white bouquet alongside the tributes. 'It's absolutely heartbreaking. It just shows how life events can change really quickly. I'm absolutely devastated for his wife, his children and his family. I can't imagine what they're going through at the moment. My son is 28 and it's just really shocking.' Denise Cook, a season ticket holder for 41 years, had written a line from Jota's famous chant – 'And his name is Diogo' – on her floral tribute. 'It will go down as one of the tragic days like Hillsborough,' she said. 'He just gave everything. He never gave up, he was always chasing the ball. He was very integral. He was just always there and always trying. At the time I thought it was one of the best signings we'd made.' Amber McKendry, 30, and her partner, Roger McBurney, 34, both Liverpool fans, had flown from their home in Belfast with their three young children for a long-planned tour of the Anfield Museum when the news broke on Thursday morning. They had to break the news to Freddie, seven, Max, five, and Farrah, four, all wearing their Liverpool shirts at the stadium. 'They're still digesting it,' said McKendry. 'They haven't really dealt with much death in their life. They've all went a bit quiet. It's become a very different day for us all.'
Scottish Sun
24 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Notorious road where tragic Diogo Jota died in crash is accident blackspot riddled with deep potholes and 75mph bends
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE road Diogo Jota was killed on is "very dangerous" and notorious for accidents, according to local officials and drivers. Evil high-speed bends and deep potholes have spelled disaster for many motorists - with just-married Jota and his brother André, 26 its latest tragic victims. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 11 A single tyre mark can be seen where Jota's Lamborghini came off the A-52 dual carriageway 11 Liverpool FC star Jota, 28, died alongside his brother André, 26 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 11 Rute Cardoso and Diogo Jota got married on June 22 Credit: 11 Liverpool star Jota, 28, was killed late on Wednesday night when a tyre on his Lamborghini blew out and the car hurtled off the road, catching fire. The brothers were travelling through Zamora, Spain on the A-52 towards Santander, where they were to catch a ferry to the UK. A chorus of officials and local drivers have spoken out to warn about the perils of that particular high-speed dual carriageway. What we know so far: Angel Blanco, a central government representative for the province of Zamora, described the A-52 as 'very dangerous". Sources from Cernadilla town hall, close to where Diogo crashed, were quoted by local press as saying: 'As [the A-52] passes through Cernadilla it is full of bends at 120 kilometres per hour. 'Exceeding the speed limit or poor visibility at night tend are often the cause of accidents in these areas. 'Today it was two famous footballers, who had a great career ahead of them, but perhaps tomorrow the victims will be two more anonymous people.' The A-52 is the most dangerous road in the region, according to most recent annual accident report. Diogo Jota's classy act of humility left me and my U13s team stunned - he was a credit to his family and football There were more crashes along the route than any other nearby road, with a total of 19 in 2023, El Dia de Zamora reported. And the accidents are often fatal - with an average of 1.5 deaths per incident. Many of the crashes happen under good conditions - meaning a dry surface, good visibility and low traffic - suggesting the road itself poses danger. Drivers must content with various obstacles along the stretch - including animals. The area where Jota's Lamborghini Huracan flew off the tarmac is a black-spot for wolves. That region of Zamora is described as a "paradise" for the Ibernian wolf - and car collisions with the predators are not uncommon. 11 Jota pictured (right) with his wife and brother André Credit: Instagram 11 A tribute laid to the winger and forward at Anfield stadium Credit: PA Deer are also common, and easy access to the for the animals poses a huge risk to drivers, according to Spanish newspaper La Razón. Complaints have been lodged about the poor safety conditions of the road to various organisations. In recent years, reports were filed to motorists' organisation AEA Club drawing attention to the treacherous potholes which "riddled" the roadsurface. One said: "The A-52 highway [...] is in poor condition with constant potholes, some of which are very dangerous," adding that the issue applied to the road in both directions. 11 Jota also earned 49 caps for Portugal Credit: Getty 11 Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Steve Rotheram lead tributes at Anfield Credit: PA There were more than 40 official pothole complaints made to Spain's transport ministry in a single month last year, according to local site La Opinión de Zamora. One family published a photo of a tyre that had been completely shredded by one of the hazards. A burst tyre is thought to be behind Jota's crash - though it isn't known what caused it. Photos from the scene show a single black tyre mark streaking into the verge. A separate 2018 complaint said a lack of signage almost caused a driver to crash because it failed to alert them an imminent lane ending. The driver wrote: "A-52 is a state-of-the-art motorway and doesn't deserve this safety flaw. Do a few cans of paint cost that much?" Jota was due to catch a ferry this morning after being advised not to take a plane due to a recent lung surgery, according to CNN Portugal. 11 Jota was travelling to Santander to catch a ferry Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 11 Prince William said he was 'saddened' to hear about Jota's death Credit: Getty The Portuguese ace had missed several matches last season after suffering a rib injury in October during a match against Chelsea. Jota was due to return to Liverpool to take part in the club's pre season games which start later this month. Emergency crews rushed to the crash site in the early hours of the morning and managed to put out the flames. Both brothers were tragically pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Zamora Provincial Council. Their bodies were taken to a forensics unit in Zamora so autopsies could be performed.
ITV News
26 minutes ago
- ITV News
'Devastated' fans gather at Anfield to pay tribute to Diogo Jota following his sudden death
Shocked and grief-stricken Liverpool fans have flocked to the home of the Reds to lay flowers outside Anfield for their fallen hero Diogo Jota. A steady stream of hundreds of supporters passed the Liverpool flag, lowered to half-mast outside the famous old stadium, before making their way to an impromptu shrine outside the Main Stand. The area quickly became a sea of red and white flowers, scarves and shirts, a single blue Everton shirt amongst them, a tribute from a fan of their city rivals. Many supporters stood sombrely in silence, wiping away tears, others swapping happy memories about times the striker had scored to the delight of the Kop. Fighting back tears, John Lynch, 64, from Liverpool, said: 'I got the news this morning by text. Devastated. You know to lose a life so young but at Liverpool, we are all one, we're family. 'And when something like this happens, it's devastating. We were all looking forward to the new season. 'I've just been standing by the players' entrance where the coach comes in, thinking, he will never go through there again.' Mr Lynch said he expects fans from some of the Reds biggest rivals, Everton, Manchester United and Manchester City, to come to Anfield to lay flowers. He added: 'At time like this, football goes out the window. They'll all turn up and pay their respects.' Nisha Abraham, 21, from Malaysia but studying a law degree in Liverpool, said she felt compelled to come down to Anfield after hearing the news in a call from her mother back home on the other side of the world. 'I had to,' Ms Abraham said. 'It's almost like a family member to us. How can I not come here and pay my respects? So, I've brought a bouquet of flowers. 'I was lying in bed and my mother called me on the phone. And I sprung out of bed and I was in utter shock, I kept saying, 'What? What?' 'We have a huge following of Liverpool in Malaysia, we have a very big fan base.' Also clearly emotional was Callum Sullivan, 24, from Walton, Liverpool, who said: 'I found out this morning, my dad phoned me, he said, 'Have you heard the news?' 'Like me thinking Liverpool have just signed a world class player. And he said, 'Jota's passed away'. 'The whole world just collapsed on me. 'And the turnout today makes me proud to say I'm a Liverpool fan because we're really coming together, like we always do. 'Obviously a time of tragedy and heartbreak like this, this city really comes together and that makes me proud to be from here. 'We shouldn't be saying goodbye to one of our own. This is just raw emotion that's coming out of me. I'm trying not to cry again, but I loved him.' Mr Sullivan said the club should now retire the number 20 shirt, Jota's number. He added: 'Just retire it. It's Jota's legacy, it's Jota's number.' Egyptian Mohamed Abouelhuda, 49, a banker who lives in Dubai, visiting Liverpool with his children, said: 'We want to send our condolences on behalf of Egypt and also on behalf of Mo Salah, because most probably he's not here in town right now. 'It's very sad, very shocking, he was an incredible player, as a human being he's very good, everyone like him. 'We want to send our condolences to the entire team, the whole city as well and Portugal. 'It's sad and the guy who was in the peak right now, what he's doing and in his career, so he's in the best shape and this could happen to anyone. 'God bless the entire team of Liverpool.' Daniel Garrett, 29, from the Wirral, wearing a Liverpool shirt with Jota's name, said: 'It's absolutely devastating this, I'm sure a lot of people just like me, will be heart-broken about this too. 'He was a well-loved player Jota, who will tragically be missed. 'I thought I would come and pay my respects as well. 'My hearts and thoughts go to Jota's family and friends.'
