Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Felipe were killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning, with tributes being paid from the footballing world
Charlie Wilson US Sports Reporter and Abbie Meehan Sports Writer U-35s
10:44, 03 Jul 2025Updated 10:50, 03 Jul 2025
Diogo Jota of Liverpool looks on prior to the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 22, 2024 in London, England.
Gary Neville has paid tribute to Diogo Jota following his heartbreaking death(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Gary Neville has shared a touching tribute to Diogo Jota following the devastating news of his tragic death early on Thursday morning.
The Liverpool forward and his brother, Andre Silva, tragically lost their lives in a car accident in Spain. Responding to the heartbreaking news, Neville tweeted: "That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother. All my love and best wishes to his family."
A statement from the local police has been obtained by the BBC, which states: "The information we have so far is that the car, which was a Lamborghini, was in a road traffic accident and left the road due to a tyre blow out while overtaking.
"It was in the early hours, 00:30 BST, in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora. The car caught on fire and the two occupants were killed."
When asked to confirm the identities of those involved in the crash, the Guardia Civil said: "The player and his brother, Andre Felipe."
Diogo Jota of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 22, 2024 in London, England.
Diogo Jota has tragically passed away at the age of 28(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Liverpool FC have released their own statement regarding the tragic news, as they said: "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
"The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre. Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support."
Jota had just tied the knot with his long-term partner and mother of his three children, Rute Cardoso, a fortnight ago. The young footballer was a key figure in Liverpool's success over the past five years since his move from Wolves in 2020, clinching the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup titles.
Diogo Jota of Portugal during the UEFA Nations League semifinal match Germany v. Portugal at the Munich Football Arena on June 4, 2025 in Munich, Germany.
Tributes have flooded in for Jota from across the footballing world(Image: ANP via Getty Images)
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He netted 65 goals in 182 matches across all competitions and was part of the squad that reached the Champions League final in 2022, only to be defeated by Real Madrid.
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Jota was a cherished member of the team, adored by both his team-mates and supporters. He even earned his own chant, which is a favourite among the Kop, particularly after he found the back of the net.
The 28-year-old was a preferred choice under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot, often being selected as a starter when fit and maintaining an impressive goal tally at Anfield.
Jota also represented Portugal on the international stage, scoring 14 goals in 49 senior appearances. He played a key role in helping his nation clinch the Nations League title twice, with the most recent victory occurring just last month.