Liverpool and Portugal international Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28 following a fatal car accident in Zamora, Spain. The crash, which occurred on the A-52 highway, also claimed the life of his 26-year-old brother, Andre Jota, a footballer for Penafiel.
The tragic incident happened shortly after 12:30 a.m. on Thursday while the brothers were spending time together during the football off-season. Emergency services, including the Traffic Civil Guard, the Fire Brigade of the Provincial Council of Zamora, and the Emergency Coordination Centre (CCU) of Health Emergencies, responded promptly after receiving multiple alerts from the 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room.
Medical teams from the Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and staff from the Mombuey Health Centre arrived at the scene and confirmed both men had died at the location. Their vehicle was found ablaze and stationary on the road.
This heartbreaking news comes just two weeks after Jota married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, in a ceremony held in Porto.
Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers, amassing 182 appearances and scoring 65 goals. During his time at the club, he won two Premier League titles and recorded 26 assists, becoming a vital part of Liverpool’s attacking force under former manager Jürgen Klopp and current coach Arne Slot.
Born in Porto, Jota began his career with Gondomar before earning a move to Atlético Madrid in 2016. He later returned to Portugal on loan to FC Porto before making a permanent move to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017.
Jota’s sudden passing has sent shockwaves throughout the football world, cutting short the career of a player admired for his talent, work ethic, and dedication on and off the pitch.
