By Sola Ojewusi
Football is in mourning today following the tragic death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in Spain early this morning. Jota was just 28 years old. His younger brother, André Silva, 26, also lost his life in the crash.
The fatal incident occurred at approximately 12:30am local time (11:30pm BST) on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, Zamora, according to Spain’s Guardia Civil. Initial reports indicate the vehicle suffered a burst tyre while overtaking, veered off the road, and caught fire.
Jota and André had been travelling together at the time. The pair, both professional footballers, had deep ties to their native Portugal. André Silva was playing for Liga Portugal 2 side Penafiel, while Jota had recently helped Liverpool secure the 2024/25 Premier League title.
Jota’s sudden passing comes less than two weeks after he celebrated his marriage to his long-time partner. He is survived by his wife and their three young children.
The news has sent shockwaves through the football world. In a heartfelt statement, FC Porto — where both brothers once played — said: “Porto is in mourning. It is with shock and deep regret that we send our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. May they rest in peace.”
Liverpool Football Club has yet to issue a formal statement, but tributes are pouring in. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville wrote on social media: “That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother. All my love and best wishes to his family.”
The Portuguese Football Federation described the loss as “irreparable.” In a statement, they said: “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. We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and André represents irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything to honour their legacy daily.”
The federation announced that a minute’s silence would be observed ahead of Portugal’s Women’s Euros match against Spain tonight.
Born in Porto, Jota rose through the ranks at Paços de Ferreira before a move to Atlético Madrid in 2016. Though he didn’t feature for the Spanish giants, loans to Porto and Wolves set him on the path to stardom. His permanent switch to Wolves in 2018 was followed by a high-profile transfer to Liverpool in 2020, where he made over 180 appearances and claimed multiple domestic honours, including the Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
Jota also had a distinguished international career, debuting for Portugal in 2019 and helping his country win two Nations League titles.
Today, footballers, fans, and officials alike are united in grief at the loss of a beloved star whose talent and spirit will long be remembered.
Further tributes and updates will follow as the football community pays its respects to Diogo Jota and André Silva.
