Liverpool FC and Portugal national team forward Diogo Jota has tragically died in a car accident at the age of 28.
The fatal crash occurred on the A-52 highway in the province of Zamora, Spain, during what was supposed to be a peaceful off-season break for the footballer.
Jota’s younger brother, 26-year-old André, who played professionally for Portuguese club Penafiel, also lost his life in the incident. The two were reportedly traveling together when their vehicle crashed just after 12:30 AM on Thursday night.
According to Spanish outlet Zamora24horas.com, emergency services received multiple distress calls reporting a car left ablaze on the road. Units from the Traffic Civil Guard, the Fire Brigade of the Provincial Council of Zamora, and the Emergency Coordination Centre (Sacyl) were immediately dispatched.
Despite efforts by the Medical Emergency Unit and medical staff from the Mombuey health centre, both Jota and his brother were pronounced dead at the scene.
The devastating news comes just two weeks after Jota married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, in a joyous wedding ceremony held in Porto. Tributes from the football world and beyond have already begun to pour in as fans and teammates struggle to come to terms with the heartbreaking loss.
Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers and became a fan favorite for his relentless energy and attacking flair. Over his five seasons at Anfield, he made 182 appearances, scored 65 goals, and registered 26 assists, helping the Reds to two Premier League titles.
Before his Premier League success, Jota played for Atlético Madrid and FC Porto, carving out a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest attacking talents.
