Liverpool star Diogo Jota has died in a car crash in Spain aged 28, according to Reuters and Goal.com. He was with his brother Andre Silva, 26, a professional footballer. The accident happened on the A-52 highway in Zamora province late last night. The news is sending shockwaves through the football world.
It happened around 12:30pm. Diogo Jota and Andre Silva were in a Lamborghini. According to Guardia Civil, the car’s tyre burst and the car went off the road and caught fire. According to Castilla y León fire department, the two brothers died on the spot. The names have not been confirmed by the police yet but everything points to them being Diogo and André.
Diogo Jota moved to Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020. He scored 65 goals in 182 games and was key to winning the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup. According to Goal.com he scored 9 goals in 37 games last season and won the Premier League with Liverpool. He was so fast and so good scoring goals, the fans went crazy.
This is even more sad as Diogo Jota married his long term girlfriend Rute Cardoso on June 22. He was a father of three. Reuters reports he had posted pictures of his wedding on social media. His brother Andre who played for FC Penafiel was also among the victims. Both brothers came through Porto’s youth ranks and were making a name for themselves in football.
“Diogo Jota was not only a great player but a wonderful human being” said Portuguese Football Federation head Pedro Proença. He had nearly 50 caps for Portugal. He asked UEFA to hold a minute’s silence before Portugal’s match against Spain in the Women’s European Championship. Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro called it a sad day for football.
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Liverpool FC have not made an official statement yet but fans and his teammates are in shock. Goal.com reports he was going to be in Portugal’s squad for next year’s World Cup. He will be missed not only by Liverpool but by the whole football world. He will always be remembered for his sportsmanship and smile.
Diogo Jota’s life was not just about football. He was the owner of an eSports team and used to stream on Twitch. His brother André was also making a name for himself in football. Castilla y León emergency services said the fire in the car was so intense it burned the surrounding forest.
Mark Phury is a dynamic sports enthusiast with a knack for capturing the thrill of the game. With 3 years at Hindustan Times, he delivers sharp, engaging stories that resonate with fans. Reach him at markphury@gmail.com for insights that score every time.