Diogo Jota dead: Liverpool star dies aged 28 in car crash two weeks after wedding | Football | Sport

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28 after being involved in a road traffic accident in a Spanish province. The forward was travelling in a vehicle with his brother Andre, 26, when it went off the road, causing a fire. The incident is said to have taken place on the A-52 in the province of Zamora, near the town of Palacios de Sanabria.

The accident occurred shortly after midnight and firefighters were called to extinguish the fire, which had spread to nearby vegetation. The A-52 road in Spain is a key route taken by drivers leaving northern Portugal. Jota’s brother Andre is also reported to have died in the crash.

In a statement, the emergency services in the Castilla and Leon region said: “The 112 Castilla and Leon operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at kilometre 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.”

It comes just two weeks after Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in Portugal. On Instagram, they shared pictures of them standing in front of the altar. They have three children together.

Jota began his career in his birthplace of Porto, playing for Pacos de Ferreira. A year later, he moved to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and spent a year on loan at Porto where he scored eight goals.

His form caught the eye of Wolves, who initially signed him on loan before making the move permanent in 2018. He adapted well in the Premier League and was snapped up by Liverpool two years later.

Jota scored 65 goals for Liverpool and chipped in with 28 assists during his five-year spell at Anfield. Last season, he found the net on six occasions with his contribution helping the Reds to secure Premier League glory.

The versatile forward also made 49 appearances for Portugal at international level, scoring 14 goals. He was part of the side that won the Nations League earlier this year.

Tributes have been flooding in on social media, with Gary Neville posting on X (formerly Twitter): “That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother. All my love and best wishes to his family.”

Portugal’s prime minister Luis Montenegro wrote: “The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured Portugal’s name, and his brother is unexpected and tragic.

“I extend my deepest condolences to their family. It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports.”

In a statement, the Portuguese Football Federation said they were ‘completely devastated’ by the deaths of Jota and his younger brother Andre.

They added: “Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all colleagues and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference in his own community.

“The Portuguese Football Federation expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where the players respectively played.

“The Portuguese Football Federation has already requested UEFA to hold a minute of silence, this Thursday, before our national team’s match against Spain in the Women’s European Championship.

“We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and Andre Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to honour their legacy daily.”