Liverpool's Jota, brother die in single-car crash

Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car accident near Zamora, Spain, when the Lamborghini they were in veered off a road and burst into flames, police said Thursday.

Liverpool FC, the Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) also confirmed the incident.

The news comes just weeks after Jota married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children.

Police were investigating the causes. They said there were no other vehicles involved. The 28-year-old Jota and his brother, 25-year-old Andre Silva, both Portuguese players, were in the car. Silva played with Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower divisions.

A Civil Guard spokesperson told ESPN that they believe the car lost control after a tire blew out.

The Spanish Civil Guard is one of the two national law enforcement agencies of Spain. They are a separate organisation to the police.

The Provincial Zamora Council, a local government body who first reported the accident, said that the car caught fire.

Jota, whose full name was Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, made 182 appearances for Liverpool since joining from Wolves in 2020. He lifted the Premier League title in May, having previously won the FA Cup and two Carabao Cups in his five years at the club.

"Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota," the club said in a statement.

"Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and André's family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.

"We will continue to provide them with our full support."

UEFA said its thoughts were with relatives, friends and teammates affected "by this heartbreaking loss." It said a moment of silence will be observed at Euro 2025 matches on Thursday and Friday.

Jota began his career at Portuguese side Paços de Ferreira and also enjoyed spells at Atlético Madrid and FC Porto.

Jota also won 49 international caps for Portugal, during which he won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and again last month, scoring 14 goals.

The FPF said in a statement: "The Portuguese Football Federation and the entire Portuguese football community are devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva in Spain this morning.

"Diogo Jota 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. He had a contagious joy and was a reference point in his own community.

"The Portuguese Football Federation would like to offer the deepest condolences to the families and friends of Diogo and André, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the respective clubs of the players.

"The Portuguese Football Federation has asked UEFA to hold a minute's silence ahead of our national team's match against Spain in the Women's European Championship on Thursday.

"We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day."

The Liga Portugal and Atlético Madrid also paid tribute to the two players.

Jota's Portugal teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, sent his condolences to the brothers' family.

"It doesn't make sense. We were just together with the national team, you had just gotten married," Ronaldo said in a post on social media.

"To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you."