ZAMORA, SPAIN – Liverpool Football Club and the wider footballing world are in mourning following the sudden and tragic death of Portuguese international Diogo Jota, 28, who died in a car crash in the early hours of Thursday morning in northern Spain.

The fatal accident occurred on the A-52 highway near the town of Cernadilla, in the province of Zamora, close to the border with Portugal. Jota was travelling with his younger brother, André Silva, 26, also a professional footballer, when their Lamborghini reportedly suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking. The vehicle veered off the road, rolled multiple times, and burst into flames, also setting fire to nearby vegetation. Both brothers died at the scene.

Spanish emergency services responded swiftly to the incident, which happened at approximately 12:35am. Despite their efforts, the two men could not be saved.

Liverpool FC issued a heartfelt statement this morning, expressing deep sorrow at the loss.

“We are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. His family, teammates, and supporters have suffered an unimaginable loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this incredibly difficult time.”

Fans have begun gathering outside Anfield to pay tribute, laying flowers, scarves, and handwritten messages in memory of the Portuguese forward.

Jota's death comes just two weeks after his wedding to long-time partner Rute Cardoso, also 28, the mother of his three children. The couple, together since the age of 16, were married on June 22 in Porto. Jota had recently shared touching footage from the ceremony, describing himself in his final Instagram post as “the luckiest man in the world.”

Rute shared additional photos on social media just yesterday, calling their wedding “my dream come true.” Jota commented, “I’m the lucky one.”

The Portuguese Football Federation also confirmed the deaths and expressed condolences to the Silva family. Diogo and André were the only children of Joaquim and Isabel Silva.

The A-52 highway is a known transit route for drivers heading from northern Portugal to ports such as Santander and Bilbao or further into mainland Europe. Authorities in the Castilla and Leon region are currently investigating the cause of the crash.

Jota, who joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, was widely regarded as one of Portugal’s most talented forwards. His dynamic playing style, work ethic, and goal-scoring ability had earned him a special place in the hearts of fans both at Anfield and across the footballing world.

More tributes are expected to pour in from teammates, clubs, and international football bodies in the coming hours.