Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car crash in Zamora, Spain, in the early hours of Thursday, July 3. They were 28 and 25, respectively.
Jota had just tied the knot with his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, less than two weeks prior.
“The information we have so far is that the car, which was a Lamborghini, was in a road traffic accident and left the road due to a tire blowout while overtaking,” the Spanish Guardia Civil told BBC News. “It was in the early hours, 00:30 BST, in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora.”
“The car caught on fire, and the two occupants were killed,” the local police force said, confirming the identities of the two people as Jota and Silva.
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Jota played as a forward for the English Premier League team Liverpool F.C.
The soccer team said in a statement via its website, “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.”
“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’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,” the statement continued.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said in a statement via X, “The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured Portugal’s name, and his brother is unexpected and tragic. I extend my deepest condolences to their family. It is a sad day for football and for national and international sport.”
In a statement to the BBC, Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca said: “The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, this early morning, in Spain.”
“Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 international appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself,” Proenca continued. “On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, they played their football.”
“The loss of Diogo and Andre represent irreplaceable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything, daily, to honor their legacy,” he added.
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Jota tied the knot with Cardoso, with whom he has three young children, on June 22, sharing pictures from their wedding day via social media at the time.
“June 22, 2025 • Yes to forever 
,” Jota captioned a series of photos from their nuptials on Saturday, June 28.
On Monday, June 30, Cardoso shared snaps of herself in her wedding dress via her own Instagram along with the caption, “My dream came true 
.”
Jota commented on the post: “But I’m the lucky one 
.”
