Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has described the death of footy ace Diogo Jota as “devastating news” and said millions of Liverpool football fans would be shocked.
The PM said his first thoughts were with Jota's family and friends when asked about the horror death while speaking in East London.
The Liverpool star was killed alongside his younger brother Andrew in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning, leaving the sporting world stunned and sparking a flurry of tributes.
The Prime Minister told reporters on Thursday morning: “Let me start with Jota, because this is devastating news. I’m sure I speak for everyone in saying our first thoughts are going to be with his family and his friends in particular.
The tragic death came just days after he married his childhood sweetheart
The tragic death came just days after he married his childhood sweetheart (Image: Instagram)
“But there are millions of Liverpool fans, but also football fans, and non-fans, who will also be shocked by this.
“I think Liverpool Football Club have just put a statement out as I understand it, but it is devastating, and it is really important we bear in mind just how difficult a period this will be for his friends and for his family.”
Jota lifted the Premier League trophy with the Reds in May before winning the Uefa Nations League with Portugal in June. He capped off a great month by marrying his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso in Porto.
Horror photos show the devastating aftermath of the crash
Horror photos show the devastating aftermath of the crash
But his life was cut tragically short in the early hours of Thursday morning in a horror car crash alongside his brother Andre. Spain's Guardia Civil said the car, a Lamborghini, left the road due to a tyre blow out while overtaking another car and set on fire.
Horrifying photos of the aftermath of the fireball crash show the charred wreckage of the supercar flipped over on the side of the main road, with emergency crews seen investigating nearby.
Video obtained by Spanish media shows the car's trajectory until it left the road and crashed, becoming engulfed in a fireball. Tyre marks show where the Lamborghini careered off the road, while broken parts of the central reservation can be seen strewn across the ground.
Diogo Jota died days after marrying his childhood sweetheart
Diogo Jota died days after marrying his childhood sweetheart (Image: Instagram/diogoj_18)
Local police said the crash happened on the A-52 in the province of Zamora, near the border with Portugal. The road is a key route taken by drivers after leaving northern Portugal as they head for the ports of Santander and Bilbao or drive north-east towards France.
A police spokesman said: "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 blowout while overtaking.
"It was in the early hours, 12.30am local time in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora. The car caught on fire and the two occupants were killed."
Flowers left at Anfield in tribute to the tragic star
Flowers left at Anfield in tribute to the tragic star (Image: PA)
His death came just hours after the star shared a poignant post on social media, reliving his wedding day with Rute on June 22. He shared a video of the day with the caption "A day we will never forget."
The couple, who had three children together, previously shared intimate photos of their big day in a joint post on Instagram, with Rute stunning in a white dress while Jota looked dapper in a smart navy suit.