Liverpool F.C. Soccer Star Diogo Jota Killed in Car Crash

Liverpool F.C. forward Diogo Jota and his brother have died in a car crash in Spain, police said on Thursday. The Spanish Civil Guard said that Jota, 28, and André Silva, 25, were found dead following an accident at around 12:30 a.m. local time in Cernadilla, in the western province of Zamora. “A vehicle left the road and everything indicates a tire burst while overtaking. As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and both people were killed,” a police statement added. Autopsies will soon be carried out on the Portuguese players, Spain’s EFE news agency said. Jota had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso less than two weeks ago and in a post on X had wrote, “Yes, to forever.” The couple have three young children together. Liverpool F.C. released a statement on Thursday that it is “devasted” by Jota’s passing. The club had just a month earlier celebrated another Premier League title for a record-tying 20th championship. Jota also played for Portugal’s national team and helped it win the UEFA Nations League last month, while Silva played with the Portuguese club Penafiel. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) said that it is with “immense pain” they have learned of their passing. FPF President Pedro Proença said in a statement that the federation has requested a minute silence ahead of a Thursday game between Portugal and Spain at the Women’s European Championship. Jota made 182 appearances for Liverpool F.C., scoring 65 goals and winning four major trophies, including the most recent English Premier League title. He previously played for the Wolverhampton Wanderers, Spanish side Atletico Madrid, and Portuguese teams Paços de Ferreira and F.C. Porto, the city where he was born. “FC Porto is in mourning,” the club said in a post on X. “It is with shock and deep sorrow that we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who was also our athlete in the youth ranks.”