Liverpool star Diogo Jota crashed ‘on way to catch ferry to UK with his brother’
Liverpool star Diogo Jota was reportedly heading to catch a ferry and return to the UK when he died in a car crash alongside his brother.
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Liverpool star Diogo Jota was reportedly heading to catch a ferry and return to the UK when he died in a car crash alongside his brother.
The 28-year-old Portuguese forward was driving through Zamora, Spain in a Lamborghini when his flat tyre suddenly burst and sent the car veering off the road, police believe.
His brother André Silva, 25, who played for Portuguese second-tier club Penafiel, was also in the car when it caught fire after crashing, killing both men.
Jota had married his high school sweetheart Rute Cardoso just 10 days earlier.
The crash occurred on the A52, near the municipality of Palacios de Sanabria at around 12:40am (11:40pm UK time), local police confirmed.
The dad-of-three was believed to have been driving a luxury acid green Lamborghini Huracan and travelling towards a port in the northern city of Santander.
MORE: Liverpool united in grief as tributes flow for Diogo Jota
Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2025
He was due to catch a ferry this morning after being advised not to take a plane due to a recent lung surgery, according to CNN Portugal.
The Portuguese ace had missed several matches last season after suffering a rib injury in October during a match against Chelsea.
Jota was due to return to Liverpool to take part in the club’s pre season games which start later this month.
The Liverpool star is said to have had lunch with his wife and three children hours before his death in a paradise Atlantic Ocean resort dubbed “the most beautiful land” in Portugal.
The Portuguese national football team have said they are “devastated” by the Jota’s death.
They added that he “was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person who was respected by all his teammates and opponents”.
Jota had got married just 10 days ago to his longterm partner Rute Cardoso and the couple have three children, Dinis, Durate, and a daughter who was born in 2024
They had shared pictures of them in front of the altar with their kids before the tragedy.
In the caption, they said: “June 22, 2025. Yes to forever.”
The Instagram post received over 190,000 likes and over 1,000 comments.
And it included love heart emojis from fellow Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and Natalia Becker, wife of goalkeeper Alisson.
Tributes have been flooding in for the star, with ex-player and pundit Gary Neville saying: “That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother.
“All my love and best wishes to his family.”
TV presenter Piers Morgan wrote: “He only got married two weeks ago. Heartbreaking.”
FC Porto also paid tribute, saying: “Futebol Clube do Porto is in mourning.
“It is with shock and deep regret that we send our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who was also our youth player. May they rest in peace.”
The Portuguese forward started his career in his birthplace of Porto, playing for Paços de Ferreira.
He made his first Primeira Liga appearance in 2015 and a year later moved to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
But the diminutive striker never made an appearance in La Liga and spent a year on loan at FC Porto where he scored eight goals.
This caught the eye of then-Championship side Wolves who loaned the 20-year-old before making the move permanent for a reported £12 million.
His 17 goals helped propel Wolves to the Premier League where he continued to impress at the highest level, scoring 16 goals over the following two seasons.
In 2020, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool bolstered their already strong striking options with Jota in a reported £45 million deal.
In five seasons at the club, he has scored 47 Premier League goals and helped Liverpool win the Premier League, FA Cup and two Carabao Cups.
Jota has also been a mainstay in Portugal’s national team for the past five years, scoring 14 goals in 49 appearances for his country.
Earlier this summer, he won the UEFA Nations League, coming on as a substitute in the final against Spain.
In a statement, Spain’s civil guard said: “The Civil Guard is investigating a road accident that occurred at 12.30 this morning at kilometre 65 of the A52 motorway, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora.
“A vehicle left the road on the left side.
“The investigation points to a road accident due to a tire burst while overtaking.
“As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and both occupants died.
“Pending the completion of forensic tests, one of the deceased has been identified as Diogo Jota, a Liverpool FC player, and his brother Andre Felipe.”
Originally published as Liverpool star Diogo Jota crashed ‘on way to catch ferry to UK with his brother’
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