Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash in Spain
The regional fire department of Castile and Leon, where Zamora is located, said on its website a car crashed early on Thursday, shortly after midnight, and burst into flames, with two men, aged 28 and 26, found dead.
"We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day," the Portuguese Football Federation said in a statement.
Spanish police told Reuters they could not yet officially confirm the names of the deceased, but everything pointed to it being Jota and his brother. The Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off the road, the spokesperson said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Diogo Jota: Liverpool's remarkable player and even better human
Well-wishers leave flowers at a memorial set up close to Anfield football ground for their Portuguese forward Diogo Jota in Liverpool, north-west England July 3, 2025. Liverpool striker Diogo Jota died along with his brother early July 3, 2025 in a road accident in northwest Spain, the Spanish Civil Guard said. The accident occurred on a highway in the province of Zamora. The vehicle "left the road" before bursting into flames, the Civil Guard said, adding that the two passengers, Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Felipe, also a professional footballer, were deceased. Picture: Paul Barker/AFP Image: Paul Barker/AFP Diogo Jota was quickly hailed by the Liverpool support as "better than (Luis) Figo" and the shocking death of the Portuguese international on Thursday has left the English champions in mourning. The 28-year-old died alongside his younger brother Andre after their vehicle veered off a motorway in northern Spain before bursting into flames. A product of the Pacos de Ferreira academy on the outskirts of his native Porto, Jota made his name and played the majority of his professional career in the Premier League. His precocious talent caught the eye of Atletico Madrid who snapped him up in 2016 but he never played a game for the Spanish giants. Jota's Journey: From Porto Loan to Liverpool's £45 Million Signing Amidst Pandemic Challenges Instead, after a loan spell at Porto, Jota was among the first wave of Portuguese talent parachuted into England at then second-tier Wolves due to the club's connections with super-agent Jorge Mendes. Jota's goals helped fire Wolves from the Championship to the quarter-finals of the Europa League in just three seasons. That caught the eye of Liverpool, who splashed out a £45 million ($62 million) transfer fee for the versatile forward even in the midst of the economic meltdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. 'Exceptional player, exceptional boy,' said former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp during Jota's early days at Anfield. 'He has everything that a Liverpool player in this squad needs.' Jota's Impact at Liverpool: A Rising Star Jota took little time to deliver some return on Liverpool's investment, becoming the first player in the club's history to score in his first four home games. Once supporters were back in the stands after the pandemic, Jota's popularity was reflected in a chant proclaiming him to be better than Portugal legend Figo, who played for Real Madrid and Barcelona during his decorated career. He was a key part of the side that won the League Cup and FA Cup in 2021/22, narrowly missing out on the Premier League and Champions League for what would have been an unprecedented quadruple.
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
Benni to Rele Mofokeng: 'Don't waste your talent, go to Europe'
Former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy has advised Orlando Pirates star Relebohile Mofokeng to move to Europe. The 20-year-old has been a top player for the Buccaneers for two seasons now, and many feel this is the time for him to leave South Africa. With four trophies to his name, Mofokeng is no doubt one of the best PSL players currently. Benni, who spent a few years in the PSL before moving to overseason, feels Relebohile Mofokeng has huge potential to make a name for himself in Europe. 'I've watched him several times, and I think he's got huge potential. He's got the mentality, the football brains, and mentality of players from my generation,' McCarthy was quoted IOL . 'He's generations ahead of the current crop of players. I think he's got what it takes to make it in Europe. I would encourage him to find a way to play in Europe. South Africa, yes, it has some of the best players in Africa, but Africa is a small continent in football terms. 'When you play in Europe, you get the chance to play against the biggest and the best. It's you against the world,' said Bafana Bafana legend. 'I think he should consider going to the Scottish league, somewhere like that, so he can work his way up from there. Rangers and Celtic always need strikers they can bring on and develop before selling on to bigger clubs.' Benni feels that Mofokeng can succeed not only in Scotland but also in Portugal and the Netherlands. 'Some players are happy to stay in Africa, and they can make a decent living, but they become irrelevant if they don't test themselves as hard as they can. If you play in Europe, you can excel, and he could also move to the Dutch or the Portuguese leagues,' he said. 'If you succeed there, it's only a matter of time before the Premier League sides come calling. I think he's got the ability, and he needs to give himself the opportunity.' 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.
TimesLIVE
13 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Defenders Monyane and Mako join Chiefs from Pirates
Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed the signing of defenders Thabiso Monyane and Paseka Mako. Monyane and Mako join Amakhosi from traditional rivals Orlando Pirates and they will significantly boost coach Nasreddine Nabi's defence next season as they look to be competitive in the Betway Premiership. They are the fifth signings of the off-season after Chiefs recruited defender Nkanyiso Shinga from Portuguese club FC Alverce, midfielder 26-year-old Ethan Chislett and Portuguese striker Flavio Silva. Chiefs travel to the Netherlands on Thursday night for a preseason training camp where they have scheduled friendly matches against SBV Vitesse Arnhem, FC Utrecht, NEC Nijmegen, PEC Zwolle and FC Twente.
