Diogo Jota, a 28-year-old forward for Liverpool, faced a tragic car accident while traveling to a ferry in Spain after a lengthy 10-hour drive. He was returning to the UK from Portugal to kick off preseason training.
The incident occurred on Thursday night in Zamora, Spain, when the Lamborghini in which he was riding veered off the road. Jota was with his brother, Andre Silva, navigating from Porto, Portugal to Santander, Spain, where a ferry awaited to take them to Portsmouth, England. Details remain unclear about who was behind the wheel.
Jota had opted for this longer drive because medical advice suggested he shouldn’t fly following a minor surgery related to his lungs.
According to investigators, the Lamborghini’s tires may have burst, resulting in a collision with another vehicle. The car then plunged off an isolated highway, falling into flames. It was noted that this tragic event happened close to the Portuguese border.
Jota, who had recently married Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children, just weeks prior to the crash, leaves behind a grieving family and a shaken fan base.
Images surfaced of the wrecked and charred Lamborghini on the roadside, painting a distressing picture of the aftermath.
Fellow players and fans expressed their sorrow; football star Cristiano Ronaldo shared his feelings on Instagram, reflecting on the senselessness of the situation. “We were just together on the national team. You were just married,” he wrote.
Authorities confirmed that the bodies of the two brothers were taken to a forensic center in Zamora for autopsy, with a funeral planned for Saturday in Porto, Portugal.
