The football world is in mourning following the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in Spain on Thursday, July 3, 2025. Jota, 28, and his brother, Andre Silva, 25, were killed when the Lamborghini they were traveling in veered off the A-52 motorway in Cernadilla, Zamora, and caught fire.
The accident occurred around 12:30 AM local time. Initial investigations suggest that a tire blowout while overtaking another vehicle caused the car to leave the road. Emergency services arrived at the scene, but were unable to save the brothers.
Liverpool Football Club has announced the postponement of their pre-season return as a result of the tragedy. The first group of players were scheduled to report to the AXA training complex on Friday for physical tests, but the club has understandably delayed the start of training as they grapple with the devastating news.
Jota's death comes just weeks after he married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso. The couple have three children. Tributes have poured in from across the footballing world, with teammates, coaches, and fans expressing their shock and sadness at the news.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot released a statement, saying, "For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special". He added, "We need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves".
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez also expressed his condolences, stating that the country had lost "one of its heroes". "We feel the family's pain and, in this tragedy, we question life in general," he said. Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota's Portugal teammate, said, "It just doesn't make any sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married".
Diogo Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 and quickly became an integral part of the team. Known for his finishing, pace, dribbling ability, and work rate, he played 182 games and scored 65 goals for the club. During his time at Liverpool, he helped the team win the Premier League title in 2025, the FA Cup, and two EFL Cups. Prior to Liverpool, Jota played for Paços de Ferreira, Atlético Madrid, FC Porto, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The funeral for Diogo and Andre Silva will be held on Saturday at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme. A wake was held on Friday morning in Portugal. The football community continues to mourn the loss of a talented player and a beloved person.
