Diogo Jota, Portuguese player for Liverpool, died overnight from Wednesday to Thursday in a car accident near Zamora, in the northwest of Spain. His brother André also lost his life. The English club and the Portuguese federation say they are “devastated” by this tragedy.
Liverpool striker Diogo Jota, recently crowned English champion, and his brother André, died on Thursday July 3 in a car accident around 12:30 a.m. on a highway in the province of Zamora in Spain. The vehicle “left the road” before catching fire, said the Civil Guard. His brother André Jota was also a professional footballer, in the Portuguese second division.
According to the first elements of the investigation, the accident could have been caused by a tire which burst when the car was overtaking, said this source. Both brothers were dead when emergency services arrived.
The 28-year-old father of three got married ten days ago.
This Portuguese international player with 48 caps joined the Liverpool club in 2020, with whom he won three titles: a Premier League (2024-25), an FA Cup (2021-22) and a League Cup (2021-22). Author of 136 goals over his entire career, including 65 with the Reds, this player has notably played for FC Porto, Atlético Madrid and Wolverhampton. The latter declared that he was « heartbroken » following the death of the player « adored by the fans ».
The Liverpool club said it was « devastated » by the death of Diogo Jota. In the statement published on social networks, the English champion club « asks for respect for the privacy of the family, friends, teammates and club staff of Diogo and André, who are trying to overcome this unimaginable loss. »
Liverpool was quickly joined by Manchester United, its sworn enemy, who offered these condolences in the face of this « heartbreaking news ». « shocked » by this announcement.
The Premier League, for its part, deplores, in a press release, the loss for football of « a champion who will be missed forever. »
Other clubs in the championship and European clubs such as Benfica, Torino, AS Roma and AC Milan also paid tribute to the Portuguese on their social networks.
« The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva », wrote the Portuguese Football Federation on Ronaldo, his teammate in the selection, also reacted on his social networks: « It makes no sense. We were together in the national team, and then you got married. To your family, to your wife and to your children, I send my condolences and I wish them all the courage in the world. I know that you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you. »
This death is « unexpected and tragic », declared the Prime Portuguese Minister Luis Montenegro. “It’s a sad day for football and for national and international sport,” he wrote on posted on the presidential website where he « deeply deplores the tragic and premature death of football player Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva », before emphasizing his « great professionalism and dedication », he who was part of a generation which took Portuguese football to the highest level ».
AZ-EDDINE AALLABOUCH
