Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota dies in car crash in Spain
The Zamora provincial council said the vehicle, reported in the Spanish press to be a Lamborghini, 'ran off the road and caught fire, which spread to the surrounding vegetation'.
Jota married his long term partner Rute Cardoso in Portugal on June 22, just 11 days before the accident.
Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2025
Liverpool said the club was 'devastated' by the news and that it was an 'unimaginable loss'.
The Portuguese Football Federation also said it was 'devastated' to learn of the deaths, adding: 'Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football.'
Police said no other vehicles were involved in the incident.
Liverpool fans started leaving tributes outside Anfield on Thursday morning – with flowers being left with messages such as 'thanks for everything, Diogo'.
Jota was part of Liverpool's Premier League-winning side in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring six goals in 26 appearances.
In a statement, the Portuguese national team said: 'Diogo Jota 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.
'He had a contagious joy and was a reference point in his own community.'
Jota and his wife got together in 2013, it has been reported, and have three children together – two sons and a daughter who was born in November.
He frequently shared pictures of him and his family on his Instagram account, while his wife has posted images of their holidays in Dubai and Lapland.
They also have three pet beagles.
On Wednesday, Jota and Cardoso, 28, posted video footage of their wedding, with the caption: 'A day we will never forget.'
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the Commons the whole House 'is heartbroken by this news', adding: 'I wanted to send our sympathies to his family on behalf of the whole House.'
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Powys County Times
32 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Shocked fans share Jota grief at Anfield
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.
South Wales Argus
32 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Tributes pour in for Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota
The 28-year-old died in a traffic accident in the province of Zamora in Spain after his car left the road due to a tyre blowing out while overtaking another car. His brother, Andre Felipe, also died in the crash, which happened at around 00:30 local time (23:30 BST). The Portuguese football star married Rute Cardoso in June, and the couple has three children together. Heartbreaking news coming out of Spain. Diogo Jota has tragically passed away at the age of 28 following a road accident. Just four days ago, he got married. He was also the proud father of three young children. This is an unimaginable loss for his family, friends, and… — Rising Stars XI (@RisingStarXI) July 3, 2025 Tributes pour in after death of Liverpool star Diogo Jota Fans, social media accounts, celebrities and more have paid tribute to the football star. Piers Morgan said: "Desperately sad news coming out of Spain that Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota, 28, has died, along with his brother, in a car accident in Zamora. He only got married 2 weeks ago. Heart-breaking." Former Manchester United footballer Gary Neville said: "That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother. All my love and best wishes to his family." Football journalist Fabrizio Romano said: "Liverpool striker Diogo Jota and his brother have both passed away due to traffic accident, reports Marca. "Deepest condolences, support, and thoughts are with those involved, his family and loved ones. May his soul rest in peace." Liverpool striker Diogo Jota and his brother have both passed away due to traffic accident, reports Marca. Deepest condolences, support, and thoughts are with those involved, his family and loved ones. May his soul rest in peace. 🤍🕊️ — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 3, 2025 A number of devastated fans have also paid their respects. One said: "Rest In Peace, Diogo Jota. You will always be remembered in our hearts." A second said: "That Jota news has just broken believe it. Life is short people. RIP." A third tribute reads: "Two weeks after he got married. Just 28 years old. This is the saddest news I've seen in football in a long time. RIP Diogo Jota." Portugal team tribute to Diogo Jota Diogo Jota's national team Portugal has also paid a tribute to the late football star. It reads: "The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese Football are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, this morning, in Spain. "Much more than the fantastic player, with almost 50 caps for the National Team A, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his colleagues and opponents, someone with contagious joy and a reference in his own community. Portugal's Diogo Jota (centre) with fellow Portuguese football stars (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire) "The Portuguese Football Federation expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Silva, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, the players played. "The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute of silence, this Thursday, before our national team's match with Spain, in the women's European Championship. "We lost two champions. The disappearance of Diogo and André Silva represent irreparable losses for Portuguese Football and we will do everything we can to honor their legacy on a daily basis." Recommended reading: Liverpool signed Jota from fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee of more than £40 million in September 2020. He scored more than 60 goals and was part of the Premier League-winning side last season. Jota also made almost 50 appearances for the Portuguese national side.
South Wales Argus
33 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Liverpool's Diogo Jota's final social media post hours ago
Fans have said, 'tell me it's not true' as they pay tribute to the Portuguese forward who had died in a crash near Zamora, in northwestern Spain, according to the Spanish news agency EFE. The agency has also reported his brother, Andre, was also killed in the crash early on Thursday morning (July 3) on the Rias Bajas Highway (A-52) near Palacios de Sanabria. Sky News adds the incident happened at around 12.40am local time. Diogo, who signed for Liverpool in September 2020 after making a move from Wolverhampton Wanderers for more than £40 million, got married 10 days ago to his partner Rute Cardoso - the couple have three children. Following pictures from the wedding day uploaded to his Instagram profile a few days ago, Diogo's last social media post was only 19 hours ago. Liverpool football star Diogo Jota's final Instagram post He shared his wedding video to his 2.5 million followers along with the caption: 'A day we will never forget.' The video showed the couple getting ready for the big day before partying with friends and family. At the start of the footage, a voiceover says: 'Dear Rute, dear Diogo, today is a day that will mark your lives for the rest of your days…' Among the thousands of comments under Diogo's final post, one fan wrote: 'tell me it's not true, if can't not be really, oh jota we Will miss you.' Recommended reading: Another added: 'Please tell me this is not real, Jota.' A third put: 'Rest in peace. Football fans gonna miss u. Shocking Day to out [our] culture.' One heartbroken follower shared: 'Heartbroken. sending all my love and prayers to Jota's parents, wife and beautiful babies. What an absolute legend both on and off the pitch. So so sorry.'
