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The football world is in mourning following the tragic death of Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota, aged 28, in a car crash in northwestern Spain. Jota, along with his brother André Silva, 25, died when their Lamborghini veered off the road and caught fire. The accident occurred just 11 days after Jota’s wedding.
Tragic Accident Claims Two Lives
Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva were killed in a devastating car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning in the province of Zamora, Spain. The Lamborghini they were traveling in reportedly suffered a tire blowout while attempting to overtake another vehicle, causing it to lose control, veer off the A-52 road near Cernadilla, and burst into flames. Firefighters had to extinguish a blaze that spread to the surrounding vegetation. The brothers’ funeral is scheduled for Saturday morning in Gondomar, Porto.
- The accident occurred around 12:40 AM local time.
- The car was a Lamborghini.
- Initial findings suggest a tire blowout as the cause.
- The vehicle caught fire, leading to the fatalities.
A Star’s Legacy Cut Short
Diogo Jota, known as “Jota the Slotter” by Liverpool fans, joined the club in 2020 for £41 million. He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances, contributing to Liverpool’s Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup triumphs. He also won the 2018 Championship title with Wolves and was a two-time Nations League winner with Portugal, scoring 14 goals in 49 international appearances. His last game was the Nations League final victory over Spain on June 8.
Jota had recently married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, on June 22. The couple had three young children. Rute had shared wedding photos just days before the tragedy, with Jota commenting, “I’m the lucky one.”
Widespread Tributes and Mourning
The news sent shockwaves across the globe, with tributes pouring in from teammates, former coaches, and prominent figures in sports and politics.
- Jürgen Klopp (Former Liverpool Manager): Expressed heartbreak, stating, “This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it!”
- Arne Slot (Liverpool Head Coach): Described Jota as “a loved one to all of us” and “the essence of what a Liverpool player should be.”
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal Teammate): Shared disbelief, saying, “It doesn’t make any sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married.”
- LeBron James (Liverpool FC Part-owner): Offered prayers, tweeting, “My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA JOTA!”
- Sir Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool Legend): Emphasized the human tragedy, noting, “Football is not important at this sad time. You feel helpless, knowing there’s so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children.”
- Liverpool FC: Released a statement expressing devastation and requesting privacy for the families.
- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa: Praised Jota’s professionalism and dedication, stating he “represented Portuguese football at the highest level.”
Liverpool FC has opened a book of condolence at Anfield and a digital version for fans to sign. Flags at Anfield and Liverpool Town Hall were lowered to half-mast, and club stores, museums, and tours have been closed. Michael Edwards, CEO of Football at Fenway Sports Group, and Richard Hughes, Sporting Director, issued a joint statement, promising to honor Jota’s legacy and emphasizing the profound loss felt by the entire football community.
Sources
- Diogo Jota, Liverpool and Portugal footballer, dies aged 28 in car crash | Soccer, The Guardian.
- LeBron James reacts to tragic Diogo Jota death, BasketNews.com.
- Diogo Jota: Tributes paid after Liverpool forward’s death at 28 | Football News, Sky Sports.
- Police share cause of fatal car accident that killed Liverpool player Diogo Jota and brother, Diario AS.
- Diogo Jota: tributes paid after Liverpool footballer dies in car crash, aged 28, South China Morning Post.
Image credit: https://www.instagram.com/diogoj_18/