Portuguese striker Diogo Jota, a star of English Premier League champions Liverpool, and his brother died Wednesday night in a car accident in northwestern Spain, about ten days after his wedding, according to local police.
The accident occurred at 12:30 a.m. on a highway in the town of Sernadia, located in the province of Zamora, near the Spanish-Portuguese border.
The car veered off the road before bursting into flames, according to the Civil Guard (Guardia Civil). The passengers, Diogo and his younger brother Andre, also a professional footballer with Portuguese second division club Penafiel, were already dead by the time emergency services arrived.
Local media outlets released video footage of the wreckage of what they said was a Lamborghini owned by Jota.
Liverpool wrote on its official Twitter account, "Liverpool FC is devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota... The club has learned that the 28-year-old has passed away in a car accident in Spain along with his brother Andre."
It continued, "Liverpool FC will not be making any further comment at this time and requests that the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, teammates, and club staff be respected as they come to terms with this unimaginable loss."
However, it later published a statement on its website, writing that fans had sung in his honor: "He will lead us to victory. That's what Diogo Jota did time and time again." After recounting his football career and how he arrived at Liverpool, it added, "The number 20 will rightly be immortalized for his contributions to Liverpool's 2024-25 title triumph, the club's 20th, with his iconic swerve in front of the Kop (the stand housing the club's most diehard fans), which secured victory in the Merseyside derby (against neighbors Everton) in April, in what was the final, most emotional goal of his life."
According to preliminary investigations, the accident may have been caused by a tire burst in Jota's car as he attempted to overtake another vehicle, according to the same source.
Jota joined Liverpool in September 2020 for €49 million (approximately $58 million) from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In five years, the winger, capable of playing as a striker and possessing beautiful headers, established himself as a key player for Liverpool, serving under German coach Jürgen Klopp and then Dutchman Arne Slot, who mourned his passing in a statement, saying, "When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, remember his goals, and sing his song. For now, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten."
He added, "My first thoughts are not those of a football coach, but of a father, son, brother, and uncle, who belong to the family of Diogo and André Silva, who have suffered an unimaginable loss. My message to them is very clear: you will never walk alone."
Jota has played a key role in the Reds' successes in recent years, particularly in their journey to the Premier League title last season. He scored nine goals in all competitions last season as Liverpool secured their 20th title.
He has scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool, winning the Premier League title in 2025 and the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022, while finishing runner-up in the 2022 Champions League.
The Porto-born player played for Passos de Ferreira (2014-2016), Porto (2016-2017), and Wolverhampton Wanderers (2017-2020).
The international player (14 goals in 48 international appearances), who won the UEFA Nations League title with his country last season for the second time, announced his marriage to his fiancée Ruti Cardoso on June 22nd. They have three children.
Hours before the event, he posted a video of his wedding, captioned it, "A day we will never forget."
His compatriot, veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo, considered Jota's death "unbelievable."
The Al-Nassr player wrote, "This is unbelievable. We had just been together in the national team, and you had just gotten married. To your family, your wife and children, I offer my deepest condolences and wish you all the strength. I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you."
His former coach, Klopp, who brought Jota to Liverpool and coached the club between 2015 and 2024, expressed his "deep sadness... This is a moment when I'm suffering! There must be a greater purpose! But I don't see it! I am deeply saddened by the deaths of Diogo and his brother André."
UEFA imposed a minute's silence at matches at the Women's European Championship on Thursday and Friday, at the request of the Portuguese Football Federation.
Federation President Pedro Proenca wrote on Facebook, "The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva."
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa described the loss as "a loss that has shocked all Portuguese people," expressing his deep regret for the "tragic and untimely death of footballer Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva."
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said the deaths of Jota and his brother were "unexpected and tragic."
FIFA President Gianni Infantino mourned Jota and his brother, writing on Twitter, "At only 28 years old, Diogo has had a fantastic career so far and has many wonderful years ahead of him, while his brother André shines at Penafiel." He added, "They will be deeply missed by everyone who knew them, as will the global football community. May they rest in peace."
Jota's former Wolverhampton teammate, international midfielder Ruben Neves, whose Saudi club Al-Hilal will play in the Club World Cup quarterfinals in the United States on Friday, wrote, "They say we lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you!"
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