Tributes pour in for Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota
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… pic.twitter.com/c7Yn3U9oQV — 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. 🤍🕊️ pic.twitter.com/qwz7soJu5n — 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 me....can't 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."
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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.
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Mourners to gather for Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota's wake in Portugal
Mourners are set to gather to honour Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, a local parish priest has said. The 28-year-old father of three, who had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso just 11 days ago, died in a car crash in Spain alongside his brother Andre Silva after a Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off the road and burst into flames following a suspected tyre blowout. The pair were found dead following the crash on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am on Thursday. Jose Manuel Macedo, parish priest at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme, told the PA news agency in a translated message that a wake for the brothers will take place at 8am at the nearby Capela da Ressurreicao before their funeral at the Igreja Matriz on Saturday at 10am. Tributes from the football world and beyond flooded in for the Portuguese forward on Thursday. Liverpool manager Arne Slot said the 'sense of shock is absolute' for the club. 'Diogo was not just our player,' he said. 'He was a loved one to all of us. 'I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals. 'The essence of what a Liverpool player should be.' Slot said the player 'never sought popularity' but gained it anyway and was a friend to everyone, able to make others feel good about themselves 'just by being with them'. He said the last time they spoke he wished Jota luck for his upcoming wedding. 'In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this,' Slot added. He recalled learning, when he first came to the club, of the song Liverpool fans sang for Jota and said he knew 'straight away' that meant the player must have 'special qualities'. 'When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song,' Slot said. 'For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.' The club has opened physical and digital books of condolence in the wake of the deaths, and supporters and members of the public can go to the Anfield Road Stand reception area over the coming days to sign a message. The online book can be found at Flags have been lowered to half-mast at the stadium and all club stores, museums and tours have been closed until Monday, with staff offered wellbeing support. 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 they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking, and a source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed 'a possible speeding incident' was being looked at. No other vehicles are said to have been involved in the incident. Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle. Liverpool fans started leaving tributes outside Anfield on Thursday morning, with flowers being laid with messages including '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. He joined the Merseyside club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, winning three major trophies. Portugal national team captain Cristiano Ronaldo said he wishes Jota's family 'all the strength in the world' following the Liverpool forward's death. A translated version of his message on Instagram said: 'Doesn't make any sense. 'Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married. 'To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. 'I know you will always be with them. R.I.P. Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.' The Prince of Wales, patron of the FA, said he was 'deeply saddened' to hear of Jota's death, adding: 'Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew him.' 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 himself 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.'
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an hour ago
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Pedro Neto may miss Chelsea's Club World Cup quarter-final after friend Jota's death
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