Portugal, Liverpool star Diogo Jota dies in car accident in Spain
His brother André also died in the crash
Portugal woke up this morning to the tragic news that Diogo Jota, the 28-year-old star footballer from Liverpool and the national football team, has died in a car accident in Spain, according to Spanish press.
His brother André Silva, also a footballer playing for Penafiel, is also reported to have lost his life in the crash.
According to Spanish newspaper A Marca, the accident took place in Zamora, located in the autonomous community of Castile and León, at kilometre 65 of the A-52 motorway.
Witnesses report the car caught fire, with flames spreading to the nearby vegetation.
Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has already lamented the tragic death:
“The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honored the name of Portugal, and of his brother is unexpected and tragic. I extend my deepest condolences to the family. It is a sad day for football and for national and international sport,” the PM wrote on social media.
Diogo Jota was one of the most talented footballer players of his generation. He started his professional career at Paços de Ferreira before impressing Atlético de Madrid, who paid €7 million to snatch him up in 2016/17. He was loaned to FC Porto, however, for one season before moving to Wolverhampton, where he enjoyed three successful seasons before moving to Liverpool, helping them win one Premier League, one FA Cup and two League Cups.
Jota also represented Portugal’s national football team on 49 occasions, netting 14 goals and helping win two UEFA Nations League trophies.
He had got married last week to his partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he has three children.
Updates to follow