Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, aged 28, has died in a tragic car accident near Zamora in northwestern Spain, along with his brother Andre, the Portuguese Football Federation announced on Thursday.
According to the regional fire department of Castile and Leon, the crash occurred shortly after midnight when their Lamborghini veered off the road and caught fire. Two men, aged 28 and 26, were found dead at the scene.
“We have lost two champions. Their deaths are an irreparable loss for Portuguese football, and we will do all we can to honour their memory every day,” the Portuguese Football Federation said in its statement.
Spanish police told Reuters that although formal identification is pending, all evidence points to the deceased being Jota and his brother. The bodies have been taken to a forensic facility in Zamora for autopsies.
Jota, who had recently married on June 28, was a key part of Liverpool’s squad that secured the Premier League title last season, and he also helped the club lift both the FA Cup and League Cup.
Since joining Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, Jota scored 65 goals across 182 matches in all competitions. Internationally, he earned 49 caps for Portugal and celebrated two UEFA Nations League titles.
Liverpool Football Club expressed their grief in an official statement:
“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
The club have been informed that the 28-year-old has died following a road traffic accident in Spain, together with his brother, Andre.
Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and ask 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.”
