Diogo Jota, Liverpool and Portugal footballer, dies in car crash at 28

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has died in a car accident in Spain. He was 28.

Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota has died in a car crash near Zamora, in northwestern Spain, police said on Thursday. He was 28. The Civil Guard said a vehicle veered off a motorway and burst into flames shortly after midnight in the municipality of Cernadilla in Zamora province, confirming the deaths of Jota and his brother, Andre Silva.

“Two young people die in an accident on the A-52 (Palacios de Sanabria). The Rionegro del Puente Fire Station (Northern Zone of the @DiputacionZA Consortium) responds,” Zamora’s Provincial Council said in an official statement.“The vehicle caught fire, and the flames spread to the vegetation. They were 28 and 26 years old. RIP.”Jota, born in Porto, began his football journey through the youth ranks of Pacos de Ferreira before earning a move to Atletico Madrid in 2016. Immediately after joining the Spanish club, he returned home to join FC Porto for a season-long loan spell, and later joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League for another loan spell in 2017/18. He left Atletico without representing the club in a single La Liga game, but drew attention quickly with his clinical finishing as he joined Wolves permanently.

However, it was at Liverpool that Jota reached the peak of his club career. Under Jurgen Klopp, he played a pivotal role in securing both the FA Cup and League Cup, establishing himself as a key figure in Liverpool’s attacking setup.Jota’s career reached new heights in the 2024/25 season when he played an influential role in helping Liverpool lift the Premier League title under new manager Arne Slot. His achievements extended to the international stage as well, where he was part of Portugal’s triumphant squads in the UEFA Nations League in both 2019 and 2025. Known for his intelligent positioning, relentless pressing, and knack for scoring crucial goals, the 28-year-old carved out a reputation as one of Portugal’s most reliable forwards.

Liverpool issued a statement shortly after confirming Jota’s passing, saying they were “devastated” by the “unimaginable loss” and that they would make no further comment for the privacy of the brothers’ family, friends, teammates and club staff.”We will continue to provide them with our full support,” Liverpool added in a statement.