The football world has been struck by shock and grief after the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, aged 28, along with his younger brother André Silva, 26, in a fatal road accident. The crash occurred early on Thursday, July 3, on the A‑52 motorway near Cernadilla in Zamora province, Spain.
Police and emergency services said the brothers were driving a Lamborghini when a tire reportedly blew out as they overtook another vehicle. The car veered off the road, struck barriers or embankments, and caught fire. Both men died instantly at around 12:30 a.m. local time.
The Spanish Civil Guard and firefighters were alerted to a burning vehicle at kilometer 65 along the A‑52. As the fire intensified, it spread to nearby vegetation. First responders were unable to save the occupants.
Who Were Diogo Jota and André Silva?
Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, known as Diogo Jota, was born in Porto, Portugal, on December 4, 1996. Starting his career at Paços de Ferreira, he later played for FC Porto and Atlético Madrid before establishing himself in the Premier League. In 2017, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan, helping the club get promoted to England’s top flight. Liverpool signed him in September 2020 for about £41 million.
By July 2025, Jota had made 182 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 65 goals and helping win the Premier League (2024–25), FA Cup (2022), and two League Cups (2022, 2024) . He earned 49 caps for Portugal, netting 14 goals, and was part of two UEFA Nations League-winning teams (2019, 2025) .
His brother, André Filipe Teixeira da Silva, born April 28, 2000, also hailed from Porto. A midfielder or winger, André played for Gondomar and later Penafiel in Portugal’s second division. He had almost 96 senior club appearances and played alongside Diogo in youth teams.
Just 11 days before the crash, Diogo and his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso, celebrated their wedding on June 22, 2025, surrounded by three children. In what would become his final public post on Instagram, Jota shared a touching video of the wedding day, captioned “A day we will never forget 🤍.” This became a bittersweet reminder of happiness abruptly ended.
Jota also described himself as “the luckiest man in the world,” cherishing moments with his wife and children. Their family life took a sudden turn from celebration to shock and heartbreak.
Reactions from Clubs, Teammates & Leaders
- Liverpool FC said it was “devastated by the tragic passing,” asking for privacy for the Jota family and offering full club support.
- The Portuguese Football Federation called the brothers’ deaths “irreparable” and requested a moment of silence before Portugal’s Women’s European Championship match against Spain.
- Spanish Civil Guard, Zamora’s regional council, and emergency agencies confirmed the tire blowout and ensuing fire as the likely cause. The bodies are undergoing autopsies and forensic checks.
- Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro described the news as “unexpected and tragic,” offering “deepest condolences” to the family.
- Football icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, and Jamie Carragher paid moving tributes. Ronaldo said, “It doesn’t make sense” . Former clubs such as Wolves and Porto offered emotional remembrance.
- UEFA, major football clubs, and sports figures including Rafa Nadal, LeBron James, and Darwin Núñez expressed sorrow.
