Liverpool and Portugal international star Diogo Jota has died in a tragic car accident in northern Spain at the age of 28 — just two weeks after marrying his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso.
Jota, who recently celebrated his wedding, was reportedly travelling with his brother, fellow footballer André Silva, 26, who also died in the crash. The vehicle is said to have veered off the road, crashed, and burst into flames.
Jota had spoken just a day earlier about his joy at starting a new chapter with his wife and their three children. In an interview released yesterday, he described himself as “the luckiest man in the world.”
The accident occurred on the A-52 motorway in Zamora province, a major route used by drivers travelling from northern Portugal into Spain.
Emergency services in the Castilla y León region confirmed the grim details of the crash in an official statement.
“The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire,” the statement read.
“1-1-2 notified the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU) of this accident. From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center were sent, who confirmed the death of two people on the scene.”
Jota and his wife Rute were pictured celebrating their marriage alongside their three children on the Anfield pitch just last May after winning the Premier League.
His death was confirmed by Pedro Proença, head of the Portuguese Football Federation, who described the loss as devastating.
“The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, this morning, in Spain,” Proença said.
“Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 internationalizations for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.”
“On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, lined up the players.”
“The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute’s silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women’s European Championship.”
“Lost two champs. The disappearance of Diogo and André Silva represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to, daily, honor their legacy,” he added.
