Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28 following a devastating car crash in northern Spain. The accident, which also claimed the life of his 26-year-old brother André, occurred in the early hours of Thursday on the A-52 highway in the province of Zamora, a region located about 70 miles west of Valladolid.
According to Spanish emergency services, the Jota brothers were traveling in a Lamborghini when the vehicle is believed to have suffered a blown tire while overtaking. The car veered off the road, rolled over multiple times, and burst into flames shortly after impact. Authorities confirmed both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
Emergency crews were alerted to the crash around 12:35 a.m. local time. A statement from the Castilla y León regional emergency service read:
“The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire.”
Emergency personnel from the Zamora Traffic Police, the Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and medical teams were dispatched to the scene, but tragically, there were no survivors.
The crash comes just two weeks after Jota married his longtime partner and childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children. The couple’s recent wedding had been a joyous celebration of their love, with Jota publicly expressing that he felt like “the luckiest man in the world” to be her husband.
News of his sudden death has sent shockwaves through the football world. Jota was widely regarded as one of Portugal’s brightest talents and a key figure in Liverpool’s attack since joining the Premier League side from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020. Known for his technical ability, relentless work rate, and eye for goal, he had become a fan favorite at Anfield.
Born in Porto in 1996, Jota began his professional career with Paços de Ferreira before earning a move to Atlético Madrid and later Wolves, where his performances in the Championship and Premier League caught the attention of Liverpool. He also earned over 30 caps for the Portuguese national team and was part of their squad for major tournaments, including UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Tributes have poured in from across the football community. Liverpool FC, in a statement released Thursday morning, said:
“We are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Rute, their children, his family, and all who knew and loved him. He will forever be a part of the Liverpool family.”
Portuguese football federation officials also expressed deep sorrow, calling Jota’s death a “terrible loss for the sport and for the country.” Plans for a moment of silence before upcoming matches have already been confirmed by clubs and leagues across Europe.
In Zamora and across Spain, the tragic crash has prompted renewed conversations about road safety on the A-52, a route frequently traveled by those crossing between northern Portugal and Spain.
As fans lay flowers and tributes outside Liverpool’s Anfield stadium and his former clubs’ grounds, Jota is being remembered not only as a gifted footballer but also as a devoted husband, father, and brother whose life ended far too soon.
Further details surrounding the funeral arrangements and official memorials have yet to be announced.
