Trending: Tears for beloved Liverpool and Portugal football star and his brother
Tributes are pouring in for Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota who was killed in a road accident. Fans said:
@premierleague Everyone at the Premier League is shocked and devastated to learn of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre. Our sincerest condolences go to Diogo's family, friends, Liverpool FC, and all their supporters at this heartbreaking time. Football has lost a champion who will be forever missed. We will continue to support our friends and colleagues at the club.
@Cristiano Doesn't make any sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married. To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all he strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. R.I.P. Diogo and Andre.
@BarcaTimes Police statement: 'The information we have is that the car, a Lamborghini, left the road due to a tyre blow out while overtaking. It then set on fire. The accident happened in municipality of Cernadilla in Zamora at around 00:30 local time. Two people died.'
@hersport.ie We don't often post about men's sport, but today, we're making space.
At Liverpool FC, whenever there was a campaign about women or keeping girls in the game, Diogo Jota showed up. Not because he had to. Because he understood WHY it mattered.
Last year, he sat beside Ireland's Leanne Kiernan on International Women's Day and lent his voice to a message bigger than football.
He spoke about the women who raised him, he spoke about his partner and the support she gives him.
He glowly mentioned Marta and Serena Williams as the kind of role models he hopes his two-year old daughter and his sons will grow up admiring.
We believe everyone has a duty to care about equality and equity. Jota understood that and acted on it.
A devastating loss for his fa
mily, his teammates and everyone who saw the strength of his character beyond the game.Rest in peace, Diogo & Andre.
@TrollFootball Diogo Jota got married just 10 days ago. He was only 28 years old. Life is too short. R.I.P. Diogo and André.️
@OneFootball In the space of just over a month Diogo Jota won the Premier League, the UEFA Nations League and married the love of his life. His family must have been so incredibly proud of him.
@FabrizioRomano Liverpool flag hangs at half-mast at Anfield today in memory of Diogo Jota.
@iahmedsalih Not only did the football world lose Diogo Jota today, but also the Palestinian footballer captain Muhannad al Lilli who has been KILLED in Israeli bombing of Al Maghazi refugee camp in Gaza with 100 others since the midnight in Gaza.
@Football__Tweet Ruben Neves pays tribute to Diogo Jota: 'They say you only lose people when you forget them. I'll never forget you!'
@RisingStarXIP Heartbreaking news from Spain – Diogo Jota has tragically passed away at the age of 28 following a road accident. Just five days ago, he got married. He leaves behind his wife and three young children. Football has lost more than a player – we've lost a wonderful human being.
@Shadaya_Knight This is sad. A few days ago, Diogo Jota got married. Had a successful season, won the Premier League with Liverpool & Nations League with Portugal. Today, he is no more. Death sucks!!!
DAILY NEWS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
18 hours ago
- The Citizen
WATCH: SA's top 6 footballers playing abroad – and what they're earning
These South African footballers are not just flying the national flag high, they're cashing international cheques while doing it. They've swapped taxi ranks for training grounds in Europe and stadium roars from Soweto to Minnesota. From Premier League pitches to MLS goals, here's who's making the big moves, scoring both goals and bank, and how their salaries stack up. 1. Lyle Foster: The millionaire striker Lyle Foster. Picture via Richard Huggard/Gallo Images Club: Burnley FC (England) Position: Forward Estimated Salary: R28 million per year (£1.2 million) Burnley may struggle in the English Premier League, but Lyle Foster is still Mzansi's MVP when it comes to salary. The Johannesburg-born striker became the most expensive South African player ever after his transfer from Belgian side KVC Westerlo. Now earning a cool R2.3 million a month, Foster is not only a poster boy for SA football abroad but also serious bankability. He's young, he's fast, and his bank notifications probably need a bodyguard. Salary rank: 1st Tau: The lion of Al Ahly Percy Tau. Picture: Philip Maeta/Gallo Images Club: Al Ahly (Egypt) Position: Forward Estimated Salary: R22 million per year Affectionately nicknamed The Lion of Judah, Percy Tau has roared his way from Mamelodi Sundowns to English club Brighton, and now reigns in Egyptian football royalty, Al Ahly. Despite missing out on some Premier League minutes, Tau has found his groove (and a lucrative deal) in Cairo. With CAF titles under his belt and R1.8 million hitting his account every month, Tau's not just chasing trophies, he's chasing commas. Salary rank: 2nd ALSO READ: Andile Jali joins elite 10% black farmers: Midfielder farms cattle in Gqeberha 3. Bongokuhle Hlongwane: The MLS marvel Bongokuhle Hlongwane. Picture: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images Club: Minnesota United FC (USA) Position: Forward Estimated Salary: R13.5 million per year ($750 000) Bongokuhle Hlongwane is one of the most exciting exports to Major League Soccer, where he's quickly become a fan favourite for his pace and flair. Known affectionately as 'Bongi', he's doing big things in the land of Super Bowl Sundays and oversized stadium snacks. Raking in more than R1.1 million a month, Bongi proves that you don't need Europe to live the footballer dream, you need American dollars – and a good winter jacket. Salary rank: 3rd 4. Dean Furman: The midfield mentor Dean Furman Picture via Steve Haag/Gallo Images Club: Non-league/Retired (last club: Altrincham FC, England) Position: Midfielder Estimated Salary: Previously R6 million per year Dean Furman, once Bafana Bafana's midfield general, had a solid career in the English lower leagues and PSL. While he's moved into semi-retirement, we still salute his grind, especially during his SuperSport United captaincy years. His earning power peaked back in the day, with PSL salaries of around R500 000 per month. Now, he's more about passing on wisdom than passing the ball. Salary rank: 4th (historically) 5. Olwethu Makhanya: Rising star in the MLS Olwethu Makhanya. Picture: Instagram Club: Philadelphia Union II (USA) Position: Defender Estimated Salary: R3 million per year ($160 000) Former Stellenbosch FC prodigy Olwethu Makhanya is cutting his teeth in the United States with Philadelphia Union II. Though he's not making Hollywood blockbuster cash (yet), his trajectory is promising, and he's in a league where salaries grow faster than your grandma's aloe vera plant. At around R250 000 a month, it's not bad for a 20-year-old who's just getting started. Salary rank: 5th (with star potential) 6. Shandre Campbell: The wunderkind-in-waiting Shandre Campbell. Picture: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images Club: Potential European move (linked with clubs in Belgium and the Netherlands) Position: Winger Estimated Salary: TBD (rumoured R2–R3 million deal incoming) Matsatsantsa's teen sensation, Shandre Campbell, has Europe on speed dial. Rumoured to be fielding offers from Belgian and Dutch clubs, the left-footed dynamo is poised for his big international payday. While he's still technically local, this 18-year-old is already being valued like vintage vinyl, rare, exciting, and highly collectable. Salary rank: 6th (but watch this space!) South Africa may not have a Messi or Mbappé (yet), but our boys are holding their own in some of the world's top leagues. Whether it's Premier League pounds, Egyptian pounds, or American dollars, they're proving that South African talent travels and earns well.
The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Chelsea stun PSG to win Club World Cup final
Cole Palmer scored two goals and set up another as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, beating the European champions 3-0 before lifting the trophy alongside US President Donald Trump. PSG were the favourites after coming to the United States fresh from winning the Champions League and having destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals. But having been three goals ahead early on in the semis, this time the roles were reversed as PSG found themselves 3-0 down by the break. Palmer opened the scoring midway through the first half and struck again to make it two on the half-hour mark, before taking advantage of passive defending to set up Joao Pedro for the third on 43 minutes. A bad day for PSG was summed up when Joao Neves was shown red following a VAR review four minutes from the end for pulling Marc Cucurella by the hair off the ball. 'Being Club World Cup champion is something for us to be proud of. We are very happy, especially against a team in PSG who I consider the best in the world with one of the best managers in the world,' said Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, before hailing match-winner Palmer. 'These are the games where we expect Cole to appear because it is a big game, a big moment, and once again he showed how good he is.' Before Chelsea got to lift the trophy, tensions spilled over at full-time with players facing off on the pitch and Paris coach Luis Enrique raising his arm to the neck of Joao Pedro. 'There was a lot of pushing and shoving. It was a situation that obviously should have been avoided, but my intention was clearly just to try to separate the players,' said Luis Enrique. The scoreline was one few could have predicted as Chelsea capped what has been a long but memorable season – they are the first ever winners of the 32-team Club World Cup having also won the UEFA Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League. They will also take away around $125 million in prize money, meaning the prospect of a drastically curtailed summer break before returning for next season will surely feel worth it. Cole Palmer (centre) takes the acclaim of his team-mates after scoring one of his two goals in Chelsea's 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final © FRANCK FIFE / AFP For PSG, meanwhile, the financial rewards are similar but there will be genuine disappointment at falling short of adding this title to their Champions League triumph and French league and cup double. Nevertheless, conquering Europe was always the main aim this season for Luis Enrique's team, who now have exactly a month to digest this and take a holiday before returning to action in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur. There was a real sense of occasion at the MetLife Stadium, with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and with Trump in attendance along with First Lady Melania Trump in a crowd of 81 118. For the second time in six weeks PSG found themselves involved in a final that quickly turned into a one-sided affair. The club claimed a historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final, but here they were ripped apart by Chelsea. The opening goal came in the 22nd minute as Malo Gusto got the better of Nuno Mendes down the right before seeing his shot blocked by Lucas Beraldo. The ball came back to Gusto and he teed up Palmer to finish into the bottom-left corner. Palmer has been the face of Chelsea on billboards in the United States during the tournament and he lived up to his star status by scoring again on the half-hour. Released on the right with PSG left-back Mendes out of position, Palmer advanced towards the box before stroking a low shot into the same corner. Joao Pedro played a part in the build-up to that goal and the Brazilian, signed during the tournament from Brighton, then got his name on the scoresheet to make it 3-0. Scorer of both goals against Fluminense in the semi-finals, he clipped a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma after being supplied by Palmer. PSG had conceded a single goal in their previous eight matches and they never really looked like producing a comeback, even if Neves headed just wide in first-half stoppage time. Substitute Liam Delap almost got a fourth for Chelsea midway through the second half, before Neves was shown red to complete a bad day for PSG. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Eyewitness News
Liverpool honour 'champion' Jota in return to action at Preston
LIVERPOOL - Diogo Jota was hailed "a champion" on Sunday by Liverpool manager Arne Slot as the Reds returned to the field for the first time since the Portuguese's death by beating Preston 3-1 in a pre-season friendly. Father of three Jota died alongside his brother Andre Silva on July 3, 11 days after marrying his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, after their car came off the road and burst into flames in northern Spain. A rendition of Liverpool's anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" was played before kick-off at Deepdale and Preston captain Ben Whiteman laid a wreath in front of the away supporters. A minute's silence was then observed and both teams wore black armbands. "I think what I take comfort in is that in the last month of his life he was a champion in everything," Slot said in an interview ahead of the match. "A champion for his family, which is the main and most important thing, because he got married. "A champion for his country because he won the Nations League with a country that he cared about so much, because he also wore the flag when we had celebrations. "And of course a champion for us by winning the Premier League." Mohamed Salah was among the Liverpool starting line-up and captain for the day as Virgil van Dijk was left out of the playing squad but was still in attendance. Three of the players who travelled to Gondomar, just outside Porto, for Jota's funeral last weekend, Conor Bradley, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo scored the goals in Liverpool's first steps back towards normality. Multiple renditions of Jota's song, proclaiming him to be better than Portugal legend Figo, were belted out by the Liverpool support before a ball was even kicked. In the crowd, flags emblazoned with "forever our number 20" paid tribute to the man who died aged just 28. Liverpool announced on Friday that the club will retire Jota's number 20 in his memory. "It's just hit the city hard," said Liverpool fan and security officer Thomas McAllister, 48. "Once a Liverpool player you become part of the family and we take you to our hearts. It's like someone in the family has died." Earlier this week Slot and his wife joined several players in attending the tributes that have appeared to Jota and his brother outside Anfield. "We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go," added Slot. Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and defenders Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez made their Liverpool debuts as Slot named two entirely different sides for each half. Liverpool had spent big in the transfer market prior to Jota's passing, breaking the club's record fee for Florian Wirtz as well as recruiting Frimpong and Kerkez in a bid to retain the Premier League title. "It must be devastating for his family, his team-mates but I think it will really unite and galvanise them to try and win the league for him," said another supporter Diggy Anderson, 60.
