The football world is in mourning following the tragic deaths of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva in a car accident on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Spain. FIFA has honored the brothers with a minute of silence before the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal match between Al Hilal and Fluminense at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his condolences and confirmed the tribute. "Today is a very sad day for football. We are all deeply saddened by the loss of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre," Infantino stated. "I had the opportunity to meet Diogo at the World Cup in Qatar a couple of years ago. Fantastic person, a great son, husband, and father as well. It's a tragic loss". He further added, "Of course, in the upcoming quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup, we will pay tribute with a minute of silence,”. Infantino conveyed FIFA's support to the family, saying, "There are no words in these moments. From FIFA's side, from my side, and from the whole global football family, we send a big hug to the family of Diogo and Andre and express our deepest condolences. We wish them strength in this incredibly sad moment".
The accident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday when the vehicle carrying the brothers veered off a rural highway and crashed. Spanish authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
The minute of silence was observed before the quarterfinal match, with players and fans alike paying their respects. Many players were visibly emotional, with some seen comforting each other during the solemn moment. A black-and-white photo of the brothers, smiling, was displayed on the stadium's main screen. Portuguese players Rúben Neves and João Cancelo, teammates of Jota, were seen in tears during the tribute.
Tributes have poured in from across the football world, with clubs, former teammates, fans, and national associations expressing their grief. Jota was a distinguished player, having played for clubs such as Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Liverpool. He also represented Portugal in 49 matches, winning two UEFA Nations League titles. His younger brother, Andre, was a rising talent in Portuguese football.
Rúben Neves shared an emotional message on social media: "They say we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you, brother!". Raúl Jiménez, Jota's former teammate at Wolverhampton Wanderers, also expressed his grief: "It's hard to receive such news, I still can't believe it. A great teammate, friend, and above all, a wonderful father. Thank you for everything, my friend. We will always remember you. A hug to the sky".
