LISBON — Portugal and Liverpool FC footballer Diogo Jota died on Thursday following a road accident, the Portuguese Football Association confirmed.
The 28-year-old winger was involved in an accident overnight on Thursday in the province of Zamora, when the Lamborghini he was travelling in veered off the road and caught on fire, according to authorities and media reports.
The accident occurred at 00:30 on the A-52 near Sanabria in the municipality of Cernadilla. The Portuguese international's brother André Silva — also a footballer who played for Liga Portugal 2 side Penafiel — was with Diogo Jota in the vehicle and also died at the scene, according to reports.
"The Portuguese Football Federation and the entire Portuguese football community are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, this morning in Spain," the Portuguese FA said in a statement on Thursday.
"We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and André Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese Football, and we will do everything to honor their legacy daily."
His club, Liverpool FC, also issued a statement on Thursday, saying they were "devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota."
“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss."
“We will continue to provide them with our full support," the statement said.
FC Porto, where he spent a year on loan during the 2016-17 season, expressed its condolences following the news of Jota's passing.
"Porto Football Club is in mourning," the club said in a post on X. "It is with shock and deep regret that we send our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who was also our athlete in the youth categories."
"Rest in peace," the club concluded.
Born Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, the native of Porto became known as Diogo Jota after choosing to wear "Diogo J" to distinguish himself from other players with similar names at his youth club Paços de Ferreira.
Following a transfer to Atlético Madrid in 2016 — which involved a loan to Porto for the season — Jota's stock quickly rose due to his lightning-fast pace and clinical finishing. He arrived at Liverpool FC in 2020 after a stint at Wolverhampton Wanderers, whom he helped gain promotion to the Premier League in 2017-18.
Jota registered six goals and three assists in 26 appearances in the Premier League in 2024-25 with Liverpool, celebrating the club's 20th league title in May.
In addition to this year's Premier League title, Jota won one FA Cup and one EFL Cup with the Liverpool-based club. He also won two UEFA Nations League titles with the Portuguese national team, for whom he played 49 games and scored 14 goals.
He was an avid gamer, known for participating in esports tournaments, and also owned an esports team, Luna Galaxy. In 2021, he briefly became world number one in the FIFA 21 football game.
His triangle gesture, as well as his goal celebration in which he'd mimic sitting down with a video game controller, were both in homage to the EA Sports series.
Jota married his long-time partner Rute Cardoso less than two weeks ago, on 22 June. The couple had three children. — Euronews
