Diogo Jota, Liverpool and Portugal Forward, Dies in Car Crash at 28

Madrid: Diogo Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal footballer, has died aged 28 following a car accident in the early hours of Thursday in Zamora, north-west Spain. Spanish media outlet Marca reported that Jota and his brother André Silva, also a professional footballer, were killed when their vehicle veered off the road and caught fire.

Witnesses alerted emergency services after seeing the car engulfed in flames, which later spread to nearby vegetation.

Jota joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 for 41 million Euro. During his time with the club, he scored 65 goals in 182 appearances and won several honours including the Premier League title, the FA Cup, the Community Shield, and two Carabao Cups. He recently married his long-time partner Rute Cardoso on June 22. The couple had three children.

Jota earned 49 caps for Portugal and played a role in the national team's UEFA Nations League final victory over Spain last month.

In a statement, the Portuguese Football Federation said it was “utterly devastated” by the deaths, adding: “Far beyond being an exceptional player, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference within his own community.”

Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore wrote on X: “I’m sure like many in the football family there's just a profound sense of shock, sadness and disbelief at the news of Diogo Jota’s death at the unfathomably young age of 28. Newly married too. Sending my deepest condolences to his family and friends and everyone at Liverpool Football Club. Devastating.”

Authorities in Spain have launched an investigation into the crash.