By Lawrence Ostlere
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has died aged 28 after a car accident in Portugal.
The crash occured in the province of Zamora and Jota鈥檚 26-year-old brother, Andre, a footballer for FC Penafiel in Portugal, is also reported to have been in the vehicle.
Jota married partner Rute Cardoso in Porto two weeks ago. His last Instagram post shows a video of the wedding day, with the caption: 鈥淎 day we will never forget.鈥
The Portugal international joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 and established himself as a key attacker under Jurgen Klopp and latterly Arne Slot, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup in his five-year spell at Anfield.
Tributes are pouring in on social media from huge numbers of former players, media figures, and footballing fans, who just months earlier witnessed the 28-year-old win his first Premier League title – his crowning sporting achievement.
Liverpool Football Club have not yet commented on the reports, but Jota鈥檚 death was confirmed by Pedro Proenca, head of the Portuguese Football Federation.
He said in a statement: 鈥淭he Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and Andr茅 Silva, this morning, in Spain.
鈥淢uch more than an amazing player, with almost 50 international caps, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.
鈥淥n my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andr茅 Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, lined up the players.
鈥淭he Portuguese Football Federation has already asked Uefa for a minute’s silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women’s European Championship.
鈥淲e lost to two champions. The death of Diogo and Andre Silva represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to, daily, honour their legacy.鈥
Portuguese prime minister Luis Montenegro posted on social media: 鈥淭he news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honored Portugal鈥檚 name, and his brother is unexpected and tragic. I extend my deepest condolences to their family. It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports.鈥
Born in Porto in 1996, Jota joined the Pacos de Ferreira youth setup in 2013 before making his senior debut in autumn 2014.
He first appeared in Portugal鈥檚 top division in February 2015, becoming the youngest player at his club to score in the top division. Jota joined Spanish club Atletico Madrid in 2016, before his move to the Premier League one year later.
After starring for Wolverhampton Wanderers for two years, he stepped up to a Liverpool team who had just won the Premier League under Jurgen Klopp.
more to follow…