Liverpool Star Diogo Jota Dies at 28 in Tragic Car Crash in Spain

Liverpool star killed with brother in Spain days after wedding

Image Credit, Jota Social Media

Diogo Jota, the 28-year-old Liverpool and Portugal star, has tragically died in a car crash in Spain alongside his younger brother. The fatal accident occurred just after midnight on July 3, 2025, on the A‑52 highway near the city of Zamora. According to early reports from the Spanish Civil Guard, the Lamborghini they were traveling in suffered a suspected tire blowout while overtaking another vehicle. The car lost control, veered off the road, collided with roadside barriers, and burst into flames upon impact. Both Diogo and his brother, André Silva, were pronounced dead at the scene. No other vehicles were involved, and an investigation is ongoing to confirm the full sequence of events.

Jota had recently celebrated what was supposed to be the happiest chapter of his life. On June 22, just eleven days before the crash, he married his longtime partner Rute Cardoso in a private ceremony attended by close friends and family. The couple shared three children, and Jota often spoke in interviews about how deeply grounded he felt by his family. His brother André, who played professionally for Portuguese second-tier side Penafiel, had been visiting Spain with him during the offseason.

Jota’s death has sent ripples throughout the global football community. Known for his sharp instincts, relentless energy, and ability to turn games on their head, Jota had become a fan favorite since joining Liverpool from Wolves in 2020. In five seasons at Anfield, he made 182 appearances and scored 65 goals. He played a key role in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign in 2025 and lifted the FA Cup and two League Cups during his tenure. At the international level, Jota represented Portugal 49 times, scoring important goals in both the Nations League and European qualifiers. His on-field achievements were only matched by his quiet leadership and humility off the pitch.

Liverpool Football Club issued a brief but emotional statement calling the news devastating and requesting privacy for the family. Teammates, rivals, and legends of the game, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, and former coach Jürgen Klopp, paid tribute to Jota’s legacy. Fans began gathering outside Anfield within hours of the news breaking, laying flowers, scarves, and notes in remembrance.

Portugal’s Football Federation also confirmed a minute of silence will be observed before the upcoming Women’s Euro qualifying match against Spain. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, in an address to the nation, described Jota’s death as a cruel and unexpected loss not only to Portuguese sport but to the country’s cultural fabric.

Jota’s legacy will be remembered not only through his stats and silverware but by the example he set—ambitious yet humble, competitive yet kind, a devoted father and husband, a brother, a teammate, a friend. He was entering what should have been the peak of his career, and instead, the world is left to mourn a life cut tragically short. The silence left in his absence will echo far beyond football.