The football world has been plunged into mourning following reports that Liverpool and Portugal international Diogo Jota has died in a car crash in Spain. The tragic incident reportedly occurred just two weeks after his wedding, amplifying the heartbreak among fans, teammates, and loved ones.
According to Sky News, Jota, 28, and his brother Andre died in the early hours of this morning following a car crash on the A-52 highway in northwestern Spain, according to news agency EFE.
The accident is believed to have taken place at around 00.40am local time (11.40pm UK time) as the pair travelled in the direction of Benavente.
El Mundo reports the car came off the road and caught fire, with emergency services confirming the two deaths at the scene.
Spanish authorities are said to have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Jota had just recently celebrated what he described as a personal milestone—his wedding—which he had shared with joy on social media platforms. The ceremony had attracted warm wishes from across the footballing world, including messages from current and former teammates.
Born in Porto, Portugal, Diogo José Teixeira da Silva began his professional football journey with Paços de Ferreira before rising through the ranks at FC Porto and Atlético Madrid (on loan to FC Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers). His stellar form at Wolves earned him a move to Liverpool in 2020, where he quickly became a key part of Jürgen Klopp’s attacking setup.
Over his four seasons at Anfield, Jota delivered standout performances in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, scoring crucial goals and earning the admiration of fans and pundits for his relentless work rate, intelligence, and composure in front of goal. He also earned over 30 caps for Portugal’s national team, contributing to major tournament campaigns including Euro 2020 and the FIFA World Cup.
Tributes have begun pouring in across the football community, with clubs, players, and fans expressing disbelief and sorrow using hashtags like #RIPJota and #YNWA (“You’ll Never Walk Alone”)—a motto sacred to Liverpool supporters.
As the world awaits official confirmation from Liverpool FC and his family, the news has already cast a deep shadow over global football, with many describing the loss as not just a blow to the sport, but to humanity.
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