From Diogo Jota to Junior Malanda: Footballers who died in tragic car accidents
Also Read: Photos: Diogo Jota's adorable wedding moments with wife Rute Cardoso and 3 kids before tragic car crash
Diogo Jota (2025)
The Liverpool and Portugal footballer died in a tragic car accident at the age of 28 in north-western Spain. His brother, Andre Silva, 26, was also in the car and died alongside him. Jota had recently gotten married to his longtime girlfriend, Rute Cardoso, on June 22, 2025. The couple also shared three children, as reported by The Guardian.
José Antonio Reyes (2019)
The Spanish footballer lost his life in a car accident in Utrera, Spain, on June 1, 2019.
Josef Šural (2019)
Josef Šural was the Czech striker for Turkish club Alanyaspor, who died in a car accident on April 29, 2019. He died after succumbing to his injuries at the age of 28, as reported by AA.
Junior Malanda (2015)
Belgian midfielder for VfL Wolfsburg, Junior Malanda, died at the tender age of 20 in a car crash on January 10, 2015. He was sitting in the backseat of a Volkswagen Touareg but was not wearing a seat belt. Upon impact, he was thrown from the vehicle, dying instantly at the scene.
Diego Barisone (2015)
The Argentine footballer, Diego Barisone in a car crash. At the time of his death, Barisone was only 26. He died after his car collided with a truck on the Rosario-Santa Fe Highway, as reported by infobae.
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Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Cristiano Ronaldo's sister Katia Aveiro defends him amid criticism over his absence at Diogo Jota's funeral: 'Sick Society'
Diogo Jota and his brother Andre's tragic death in a car accident in Cernadilla, Zamora, Spain, on Thursday, has left the football world and their fans mourning. As the football community grapples with the heartbreaking news, an outpouring of grief and messages of support have flooded in. Amid this was Cristiano Ronaldo, who already shared an emotional tribute to the late Liverpool legend. However, his decision not to attend the late footballer's funeral has drawn criticism online. Following the major backlash, Cristiano Ronaldo's sister, Katia Aveiro, has responded to all the criticisms through her Instagram story. Diogo Jota's funeral was held on Saturday, and a number of his teammates attended the service in Gondomar, near Porto, except Portugal captain Ronaldo. The Portugal player decided not to make the journey, as he was concerned that his presence could overshadow the ceremony. Cristiano Ronaldo receives criticism over his decision The 40-year-old footballer is currently receiving huge criticism for not attending Jota's funeral ceremony. As soon as fans realised the absence of Ronaldo in the funeral ceremony, many claimed his fans always make everything about Ronald. One said, "Cristiano Ronaldo survived this back in 2009. Diogo Jota called Cristiano the goat. Ronaldo would not attend the Jota funeral. He doesn't want to disrupt the atmosphere. Make it all about Cristiano." While another said, "90% of the reactions to Cristiano not attending Diogo Jota's funeral just proves that it was the right decision for Ronaldo not to attend. 🤷♂️" Cristiano Ronaldo's sister responds to the criticisms Following the backlash, Ronaldo's sister Katia Aveiro comes in support of the footballer and reveals the actual reasons why he was missing from the funeral ceremony. Taking to her Instagram, Aveiro shared a post on her story mentioning when their father died, the pain of loss they had to deal with, and a flood of cameras and curious onlookers at the cemetery and everywhere they went. "At the funeral, there were presidents, and coaches of the national team at the time, such as Luís Filipe Scolari, etc. I don't remember seeing any of them. And they certainly greeted me. The pain blinded me. About pain/family and real support... You will never know what it means until you go through it. If someone sends me a message criticising anything my brother does, I will block it (completely ignore it); that is, they will only do it once, she added. A decisão de Cristiano Ronaldo em não comparecer nas cerimónias fúnebres de Diogo Jota e André Silva tem dividido opiniões, o que motivou a reação da irmã do jogador.Kátia Aveiro defendeu o irmão e recordou o funeral do próprio pai de modo a explicar a decisão de Ronaldo. Katia Aveiro slammed social media and society for their judgment Aveiro did not stop there; she went on to add, "It's getting tiring. The fanaticism. The criticism for nothing, I repeat, nothing... Sick society... We all have families." "It is absurdly shameful to watch TV channels/commentators/social networks emphasising an absence (wise) rather than respectfully honouring the pain of a mutilated family destroyed by the loss of two brothers. I am even ashamed to watch it. Regrettable." According to her, the world goes on; society and opinions, once valued, now feel worthless, like bottomless pits. "I feel sorry, because even war is like that—human evil is its own kind of war, and every day, we must fight against it." Apart from Aveiro, netizens on a Reddit thread wrote, "He also doesn't go to weddings to avoid the media frenzy." Another added, "He knows that he will draw too much attention to himself by the media. The funeral is about Jota and his family, and he knows that he will take the spotlight. He probably contacted them of his decision, and they both decided it would be for the best if he didn't come." Cristiano Ronaldo's last tribute to Diogo Jota Ronaldo did post an emotional tribute to Jota on social media after the tragic news broke on Thursday. In his post, he wrote, "It doesn't make sense. We were just together on the national team, and you had just 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." To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
India Today
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United News of India
5 hours ago
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Late drama as Real Madrid, PSG book FIFA Club World Cup semifinal spots
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