Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva die in Spain car crash
Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva die in Spain car crash
Diogo Jota won the English Premier League with Liverpool this year. (Reuters: Phil Noble)
In short:
Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother, who was also a footballer, have died in a car crash in Spain on Thursday.
The soccer world has reacted to the famous player’s death, marking it as a devastating day for sport.
What’s next?
A minute’s silence will be observed at all of Thursday’s and Friday’s matches at the Women’s Euros taking place in Switzerland, UEFA said in a statement.
Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother have died in a car crash in Spain on Thursday, after it veered off the road and burst into flames.
Evidence at the scene of the crash near the city of Zamora suggests Jota’s car, a Lamborghini, suffered a burst tyre while overtaking, Spanish police said in a statement.
Jota, 28, had just married his partner of ten years in late June, with whom he had three children.
“It doesn’t make sense. We were only just in the national team together, you’d only just got married,” fellow Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo said on X.
Jota’s brother, who died alongside him, was also a footballer, with Penafiel in the Portuguese second division.
“We have lost two champions,”
the Portuguese Football Federation said.
“Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day.”
Flowers and tributes are left outside Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium. (Reuters: Temilade Adelaja)
The soccer world reacts
Soccer fans, clubs and politicians around the world have reacted to the brothers deaths.
Jota won the English Premier League with Liverpool FC this season scoring six times in 26 appearances.
A minute’s silence will be observed at all of Thursday’s and Friday’s matches at the Women’s Euros taking place in Switzerland, UEFA said in a statement.
Liverpool FC said in a statement that they are devastated by the news.
“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss,” they wrote.
The attacking player sealed a $93 million move to Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in 2020 and scored a total of 65 goals in 182 games for the club.
He also made 49 appearances for Portugal, twice winning the UEFA Nations League.
Diogo Jota after winning the Premier League this season. (Reuters: Phil Noble)
Liverpool Midfielder Ruben Neves said: “They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you.”
‘We have lost two champions’
The Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said the athlete “greatly honoured Portugal’s name”.
“It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports,” he said in a post on social media.
President of the Portuguese Football Federation Pedri Proenca said “Portuguese football is devastated”.
“The Portuguese federation, this generation of players are mourning. Diogo was what we all want to be, was a reference for Portuguese football, was a talent of his generation … ” he said.
The Premier League said they are “shocked and devastated” by the news.
It is unclear why the brothers were travelling on the A-52 road near the town of Zamora.
The site where Diogo Jota died, in Cernadilla, Spain. (Reuters: Supplied)
A burned patch of grass can be seen on the side of the road at the site of the crash.
ABC/Reuters
