BREAKING – Football World Mourns Diogo Jota’s Tragic Death
The global football community has been left in deep shock and mourning following the tragic death of Portuguese international and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota. The 28-year-old, along with his younger brother André Filipe da Silva, aged 26, died in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, 2025, in a horrific car accident in Spain.
According to reports from Spanish authorities and emergency services, the brothers were travelling along the A‑52 motorway near Cernadilla in Zamora when the high-performance vehicle they were in suffered a rear tyre burst while overtaking. The vehicle veered off the road and burst into flames, killing both brothers at the scene. The accident happened around 00:30 BST.
Jota, whose full name was Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, had only recently married his long-time partner Rute Cardoso on June 22, 2025. He leaves behind his wife and their three young children. His brother André, a professional footballer himself, played as a midfielder for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division. Diogo Jota’s football journey saw him rise from Paços de Ferreira to Atlético Madrid, Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and eventually Liverpool, where he joined in 2020 for around £45 million.
At Liverpool, Jota became a fan favourite, scoring 65 goals in 182 appearances and helping the club win multiple trophies including the Premier League title in the 2024–25 season and a domestic double in 2021–22. For Portugal, Jota earned 49 caps and scored 14 goals, playing a key role in their UEFA Nations League victories in 2019 and 2025. His explosive pace, skill, and finishing ability earned him admiration across the football world.
News of his death has prompted an outpouring of grief from fans, teammates, clubs, and national figures. Liverpool FC said they were “devastated” by the “unimaginable loss” and pledged full support to Jota’s family. The Portuguese Football Federation also issued a heartfelt statement, calling his passing an “irreparable loss,” and requested a minute of silence before national fixtures. Social media has been flooded with tributes from football icons including Gary Neville, Piers Morgan, and clubs such as FC Porto and Sporting CP.
Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa expressed condolences to the bereaved family and to the nation. Spanish authorities are continuing to investigate the precise cause of the crash, but preliminary reports suggest the tyre failure was a key factor. Forensic teams in Zamora are conducting further examinations. Jota’s untimely passing at the peak of his career is a crushing blow not just to Liverpool and Portuguese football, but to the global game.
His energy, humility, and talent left a lasting legacy on and off the pitch. As tributes continue to pour in, the world remembers Diogo Jota not only as a remarkable footballer, but as a loving father, brother, husband, and teammate. The thoughts and prayers of the entire BaretaNews team are with the Jota family during this heartbreaking time.
