By Emma Costigan
Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota has died at the young age of 28 after a fatal car crash, per Portuguese media.
The footballer is said to have been travelling with his brother André, 26, who is also a footballer, at the time of the incident, which took place on the A-52 in the province of Zamora.
The Lamborghini the brothers were in is believed to have careered off the road after its tyre blew out while overtaking. It came off the road, rolled and burst into flames.
Emergency services in the Castilla and Leon region confirmed the crash in a statement.
It read: ‘The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire.
‘1-1-2 notified the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU) of this accident.’
‘From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center were sent, who confirmed the death of two people on the scene,’ the statement continued.
The heartbreaking news comes just two weeks after Diogo wed his longtime love Rute Cardoso in a ceremony in Porto. The footballer leaves his wife and their three young children behind.
5 days ago, btw. This is sad…https://t.co/r1vPwutXwu— FCBYamal (@Yamal_Way) July 3, 2025
The Portuguese sports star, who turned 28 in December, and his new wife Rute tied the knot in ‘a day we’ll never forget’ on June 22, surrounded by their loved ones.
The couple attended the same high school, and began dating in 2013. Diogo and Rute, who got engaged in the summer of 2022, welcomed their first child to the world, a son named Dinis, in February 2021.
The second addition to their family arrived happy and healthy Earthside in March 2023, and they welcomed their third child on November 26, 2024.
The Portuguese national football team has paid tribute to the late 28-year-old following news of his passing, writing: ‘The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, this morning, in Spain.
‘Much more than the fantastic player, with almost 50 caps for the National Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his teammates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference in the community itself.’
A Federação Portuguesa de Futebol e todo o Futebol português estão completamente devastados com a morte de Diogo Jota e do seu irmão André Silva, esta madrugada, em Espanha.Muito mais do que o fantástico jogador, com quase 50 internacionalizações pela Seleção Nacional A, Diogo… pic.twitter.com/EN901fH6FG— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) July 3, 2025
‘The Portuguese Football Federation expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Silva, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where the players respectively played,’ it continued.
‘The Portuguese Football Federation has already requested a minute of silence from UEFA this Thursday, before our National Team’s match against Spain at the Women’s Euro.’
‘We have lost two champions. The disappearance of Diogo and André Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese Football, and we will do everything to honor their legacy every day.