Liverpool Star Diogo Jota, Brother Die in Spanish Car Crash

Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his younger brother André Silva, 26, died in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, in a fatal car accident in Spain.

The crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, in the province of Zamora. Spanish police confirmed that the brothers were traveling in a Lamborghini when the vehicle suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking another car. The vehicle veered off the road, caught fire, and both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

The tragedy comes just days after Jota’s wedding on June 22 to his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso. The couple had three children.

Jota, full name Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, began his professional career at Paços de Ferreira and went on to play for Atlético Madrid, Porto, and Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining Liverpool in 2020 for a reported £41 million. During his five years at Anfield, he made 182 appearances, scored 65 goals, and won the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup.

He also represented Portugal 49 times, scoring 14 goals, and helped the national team win the UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.

His brother André Silva was also a footballer, playing in Portugal’s second division with Penafiel.

Liverpool Football Club described the incident as a “devastating loss” and expressed support for the family. The Portuguese Football Federation also issued a statement mourning the loss of two “extraordinary individuals” and announced a minute’s silence will be observed during the upcoming Women’s Euro qualifier against Spain.

Tributes have poured in from the global football community, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who said the news “makes no sense,” and fans who gathered outside Anfield with flowers and scarves in remembrance.

Spanish authorities say investigations into the exact cause of the crash are ongoing.