Liverpool star Diogo Jota was going through a 'happy moment' just hours before his tragic death, as per a phone call with the president of Gondomar SC, where he started his career
BERN, SWITZERLAND - JULY 03: Fans of Portugal hold up a photograph of Diogo Jota in tribute to Portugal football player Diogo Jota who passed away on the 3rd of July 2025, prior to during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Group B match between Spain and Portugal at Stadion Wankdorf on July 03, 2025 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)
BERN, SWITZERLAND - JULY 03: Fans of Portugal hold up a photograph of Diogo Jota in tribute to Portugal football player Diogo Jota who passed away on the 3rd of July 2025, prior to during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Group B match between Spain and Portugal at Stadion Wankdorf on July 03, 2025 in Bern, Switzerland. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)
Tributes have been flooding in after the death of Liverpool's Diogo Jota(Image: Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)
Liverpool ace Diogo Jota spoke on the phone with the president of Gondomar SC, his boyhood club, just hours before his tragic death. The outfit's president revealed that Jota was 'going through a happy moment' on the call.
Tragedy struck in the early hours of Thursday morning when 28-year-old Reds star Jota and his 26-year-old brother Andre Silva passed away after a fatal car accident on the A-52 motorway in Zamora province, Spain.
The pair were on the way to the port of Santander to catch a ferry back to England after Jota had been advised not to fly in light of recent lung surgery. The Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off the road at 12:30am local time after what is suspected to be a tyre blowout while overtaking. Both men died in the accident, with the vehicle catching fire.
In the hours before their tragic crash, it has been revealed that Jota spoke to Gondomar SC president Alvaro Cerqueira over the phone. Jota started his career with Gondomar at the age of nine.
Cerqueira told JN: "It was just after 10pm last night [Thursday], we were on the phone and he was fine.
"We spoke almost every week, and I know he was going through a happy moment. When Diogo needed to train during the off-season, he would ask to come here, and we would always make everything available.
Diogo and Rute recently got married
Jota recently got married to his childhood love, Rute(Image: diogoj_18/Instagram )
"His brother would usually come too, and they would both train. It is difficult to talk at a time like this, but what will remain is the image of two very humble people, who leave a huge void."
Gondomar is located near the Portuguese city of Porto. It is where Jota called home, and it was here that, two weeks before his death, Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children.
He and his brother's funeral is set to take place at 10am on Saturday morning. A wake is due to take place at Sao Cosme Chapel before a funeral service at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.
Countless tributes have been paid to the late Liverpool star, from ex-team-mates, managers, clubs and fans alike. Mourners have gathered at Anfield, leaving behind flowers and tokens of their admiration.
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk was one of many to release a message remembering Jota, as he wrote on Instagram: "Man, I can't believe it, I don't wanna believe it. Absolutely devastated and in total disbelief. What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man.
"You meant so much to all of us and you always will! For your family to lose two sons, a husband and a father is just unimaginable. So cruel and unfair. My heart is breaking for all of your beautiful family, for Rute and for your kids.
"I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family. A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it. We will miss you beyond words and never forget you. Your legacy will live on, we will make sure of it! Rest in perfect peace Diogo & Andre."
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