Liverpool star Diogo Jota has tragically died in a car crash in Spain at the age of 28, just two weeks after marrying his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso. The accident occurred shortly after midnight on the A-52 highway near Zamora, in the Castile and Leon region.
Jota was traveling with his younger brother, André, 26, also a footballer, when their vehicle veered off the road and caught fire. Both were found dead at the scene, according to Spanish emergency services and Portugal’s public broadcaster.
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 for £45 million and went on to make 182 appearances for the club, scoring 65 goals and providing 22 assists. In the Premier League alone, he featured in 123 matches. He also earned 49 caps for Portugal and was part of the squad that twice won the UEFA Nations League.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro confirmed Jota’s death on X, calling it a “tragic and unexpected” loss. He praised Jota as an athlete who “greatly honoured Portugal’s name.”
Jota’s passing marks a heartbreaking moment for the football world, with tributes pouring in from clubs, teammates, and fans around the globe.
