Diogo Jota, 28
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who played for Portuguese side Penafiel, tragically died in a car crash near Zamora, in northwestern Spain. The accident comes just two weeks after Jota married his long-time partner Rute Cardoso. The couple had three children together. Jota had established himself as one of the Premier League’s most clinical attackers, recording 63 goals and 24 assists in 190 appearances.
Jota’s football journey began at Gondomar before he moved to Paços Ferreira. In 2016, Atlético Madrid signed him for €7 million, but his most notable early success came in England. After loan spells, he signed permanently with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2018, impressing in the Premier League and earning a transfer to Liverpool in 2020 for over €44.7 million.
At Liverpool, Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances across all competitions, helping the club secure several major trophies, including the FA Cup in 2020, the EFL Cup in 2022 and 2024, and the Premier League title last season. Internationally, he represented Portugal 49 times and scored 14 goals.
The Portuguese Football Federation released an emotional statement:
“The entire Portuguese football community is devastated by the loss of Diogo Jota and André Silva in Spain this morning. Diogo Jota was not only an exceptional player with nearly 50 caps for the national team but also an extraordinary individual who was respected by teammates and opponents alike. His infectious joy and exemplary character made him a role model in his community.
On behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation and myself, I extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of Diogo and André, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs they represented. We have requested UEFA to observe a minute of silence before our national team’s match against Spain at the Women’s European Championship this Thursday. We have lost two champions; their untimely passing is an irreparable loss for Portuguese football. We commit to honoring their legacy every day.”
Jota’s death leaves an enormous void not only in Portuguese and English football, but also among fans who admired his talent, humility, and character.
