Prince William pays tribute to Diogo Jota after Liverpool star, 28, killed in tragic car crash alongside brother
The Prince of Wales said he was "deeply saddened" to hear about the death of
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Prince William has paid an emotional tribute to Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, 28, following his tragic death in a car crash
Credit: Alamy
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The Premier League star had joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 before making 182 appearances for the club
Credit: Alamy
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Jota (right) died alongside his brother Andre Silva, 26, after their Lamborghini left the road and caught fire
Credit: Instagram
Local police say they believe one of the supercar's tyres burst while overtaking another vehicle at around 12.30am today.
The Prince of Wales said: "As part of the footballing family, I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Diogo Jota and his brother.
Read More on Diogo Jota
"Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew him."
Wills has made football a central focus for much of his life, with the royal serving as a patron of the Football Association (FA).
The Aston Villa fan has been pictured at games alongside Prince George, including during
Jota's death tragically comes less than two weeks after he
Most read in Football
The star played on
the left wing and up front for
after joining from Wolves in 2020 for a fee of £41 million.
They added that everyone at the club is still coming to terms with the "unimaginable loss".
Diogo Jota 'dead' – Liverpool and Portugal star 'dies aged 28 in tragic car crash'
The Portuguese national football team have said they are 'devastated' by the Jota's death.
They added that he 'was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person who was respected by all his teammates and opponents'.
Ex-player and pundit Gary Neville said: "That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother.
"All my love and best wishes to his family."
TV presenter Piers Morgan wrote: "He only got married two weeks ago. Heartbreaking."
FC
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Jota was part of Liverpool's title winning squad last season
Credit: Reuters
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He had also recently tasted success with the Portugal National Team, winning the UEFA Nations League last month
Credit: Getty
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Diogo and Rute with their three children at their wedding ceremony on June 22
Credit: fk.felippekatia
"It is with shock and deep regret that we send our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who was also our youth player. May they rest in peace."
National teammate Cristiano Ronaldo also paid an emotional tribute to Jota.
The star wrote: "It just doesn't make sense. Just now you had gotten married.
"To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world.
"I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you."
Jota and his wife
In the caption, they said: 'June 22, 2025. Yes to forever.'
The Instagram post received over 690,000 likes and more than 23,000 comments.
And it included love heart emojis from fellow Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and Natalia Becker, wife of goalkeeper
Fans have also been using the post as a place to pay tribute to the star.
The Premier League described Jota - who won the competition for the first time earlier this year - as a "champion who will be forever missed".
Following his death, UEFA are set to announce a minute silence during tonight's Women's Euros match between Spain and Portugal.
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Floral tributes have been laid outside Anfield
Credit: PA
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A funeral car arrives at the forensic institute in Zamora where the brothers' bodies are being held
Credit: AP
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The crash occurred on the A52, near the municipality of Palacios de Sanabria at around 12:40am
Credit: PA
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The 42
19 minutes ago
- The 42
Arne Slot: Diogo Jota was a special person who never sought popularity but found it anyway
LIVERPOOL HEAD COACH Arne Slot says that no words can alleviate the 'incredibly raw' pain after forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, were killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning. In a statement released via Liverpool Football Club on Thursday evening, Slot said that he spoke not in the guise of a football coach but as 'a father, a son, a brother and an uncle'. The Dutchman pledged Liverpool's support to the brothers' wider family 'who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.' Portuguese forward Jota, who contributed towards Liverpool's 20th league title during Slot's first season in charge on Merseyside, was described by his head coach as a 'special' teammate and 'a loved one to all of us' at the club. 'What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw?' Slot began. 'I wish I had the words but I know I do not. Advertisement 'All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.' Commending Jota's playing qualities as 'the essence of what a Liverpool player should be', Slot added that 'there were also the parts that not everyone got to see. The person who never sought popularity but found it anyway. Not a friend to two people, a friend to everyone. Someone who made others feel good about themselves just by being with them. A person who cared deeply for his family. 'The last time we spoke, I congratulated Diogo on winning the Nations League and wished him luck for his forthcoming wedding,' Slot added. 'In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this.' Arne Slot statement: — Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2025 Slot recalled that when he first took charge at Anfield in the summer of 2024, one of the first supporter songs he came to learn was that which Liverpool fans had coined for Jota. 'I had not worked with him previously but I knew straight away that if the Liverpool supporters, who have seen so many great players over the years, had such a unique chant for Diogo, he must have special qualities,' Slot said. 'That we have lost those qualities in such terrible circumstances is something we have not yet come to terms with. For this reason, we need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves. 'My condolences go to Diogo's wife, Rute, their three beautiful children and to the parents of Diogo and Andre Silva. 'When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten. 'His name is Diogo.'
The Irish Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Devastated Arne Slot says Liverpool will sing Diogo Jota's song and never forget star as managers & players pay tribute
DEVASTATED Liverpool manager Arne Slot said the club will sing tragic Diogo Jota's song and vowed the unique player will never be forgotten. The club boss said he wished he had the words 'but know I do not' to pay tribute after the star's death in a car crash early yesterday. 13 Liverpool fans leave tributes for deceased star Diogo Jota Credit: PA 13 Liverpool manager Arne Slot said the club will sing tragic Diogo Jota's song and vowed the unique player will never be forgotten Credit: Getty 13 Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he was heartbroken by the death of his 'great friend' Credit: Alamy 13 It came as former He wrote on social media: 'This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it!' FA Patron Prince William also mourned the deaths of the 28-year-old player and his brother André, 26, saying: 'As part of the footballing family, I am deeply saddened. 'Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who knew him.' READ MORE ON DIOGO JOTA In a statement issued by the club, He said it had been a 'dream summer' for the player. He said Jota summed up the essence of a Liverpool player, with 'hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals'. And he vowed: 'When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota. We will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.' Most read in Football And referencing the song fans sang from the stands for the star, he finished his statement: 'His name is Diogo.' Slot said when he first joined the club last year he realised fans 'had such a unique chant for Diogo, he must have special qualities'. 'Profound loss and shock' - Martin Lipton on death of Liverpool star Diogo Jota dies aged 28 in tragic car crash He described him as 'a person who never sought popularity but found it anyway'. Jurgen Klopp signed Jota from Jurgen said: 'I'm heartbroken. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!' Tributes from around the world, across sport and politics, poured in for the Liverpool forward and his brother, who was also a footballer. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you Jota's Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo Flowers, scarves and messages were laid outside Anfield stadium, where flags flew at half mast, with fans in floods of tears paying their respects. Jota's Portugal teammate What we know so far : Diogo Jota has Liverpool FC coming to terms with Liverpool ace's Jota only got Heartbroken Cristiano Ronaldo says Read Portuguese Jota was one of He shared a black and white photo of Jota and said: 'Just now we were together in the national team, just now you got married. To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. 'I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.' England and ex-Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold said: 'It's so difficult to find the right words when your head and heart are struggling to accept that someone you care so much about has gone.' The Portuguese national team said they are devastated, adding Jota was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the team, but also an extraordinary person. Diogo's former club, The Premier League described Jota — who won the competition earlier this year — as a 'champion who will be forever missed'. Uefa said its thoughts were with those affected 'by this heartbreaking loss'. 13 The Liverpool flag flies at half-mast outside Anfield Credit: PA 13 Fans of rival club Everton have also laid tributes at Anfield Credit: PA 13 Wreckage from the tragic crash It said a silence will be Ex-Liverpool star and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said he was 'absolutely devastated' and Liverpool's Premier League opener against Bournemouth on August 15 will be an 'outpouring of emotion'. An excellent colleague, friend, and above all, a great father. Thanks for everything, my friend. We'll always remember you. A hug to heaven. R.I.P Ex-Wolves forward Raul Jimenez He said: 'In a state of shock. It's so sad and devastating for his wife and three wonderful children.' Jota's Portugal and former Wolves team-mate Ex-Wolves forward Wolves said he will be 'missed and always remembered'. England's Comedian and Liverpool fan US basketball star Yesterday, Liverpool fans stood in stunned silence outside Anfield. Many hugged each other in disbelief as they tried to come to terms with the tragedy. Deputy PM Joe, 40, said: 'After I put the scarf down, it was amazing how many Liverpool fans shook my hand. 'This isn't about club rivalry. I had to show my respects. It's a loss to the whole city. I live in the city. 'I've seen tributes from 13 Prince William paid tribute to Diogo and his brother 13 Wolves released a statement following the star's death Credit: instagram 13 Jude Bellingham's tribute to Diogo Jota 13 Trent Alexander Arnold's tribute to Diogo on social media 13 Liverpool fan John Bishop's tribute to Jota 13 Former Reds defender Carragher's Jota tribute 'Club will retire his No20 shirt' By David Wooding, Lifelong Liverpool fan IT'S always a great sadness to lose a football legend, but truly devastating to see one cut down in their prime. Diogo Jota's untimely death is an incomprehensible shock to the global army of Reds fans who worshipped him. We see our heroes as indestructible, and miracle-worker striker Jota was no exception. His final goal for Liverpool confirmed his legendary status: a late winner to push his team closer to that 20th league title. At the Kop end. In a Merseyside derby. Goals don't come much bigger than that. Jota the Slotter's crucial strikes earned him the ultimate badge of honour — his own song. Even when he was on the bench, the crowd would bellow: 'He's a lad from Portugal; better than Figo, don't you know; Oh, his name is Diogo' — to the tune of Creedence Clearwater Revival's hit Bad Moon Rising. Barely a month ago, I was among the 1.5million who saw Jota and his team-mates parade the Premier League trophy through Liverpool. It turned into a harrowing day when a motorist drove into a crowd, injuring 109. Two weeks later, he lifted the Uefa Nations League trophy with Portugal. Just 12 days ago, he married his sweetheart Rute — mother of his three young children. I'm sure Liverpool FC and the fans will ensure the family never walk alone. I suspect the club will retire the No20 he wore out of respect and his song will echo on the Kop into eternity.
The Irish Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Liverpool FC will retire Diogo Jota's No20 out of respect and his song will echo on Kop into eternity
IT'S always a great sadness to lose a football legend, and truly devastating to see one cut down in their prime. 3 Diogo Jota's untimely death is an incomprehensible shock to the global army of Reds fans who worshipped him Credit: EPA 3 Jota's final goal for Liverpool confirmed his legendary status: a late winner to push his team closer to that 20th league title We see our heroes as indestructible, and the striker Jota was no exception. He regularly worked miracles. His final goal for Liverpool confirmed his legendary status: a late winner to push his team closer to that 20th league title. At the Kop end. READ MORE ON DIOGO JOTA In a Goals don't come much bigger than that. Jota the Slotter's crucial strikes earned him the ultimate badge of honour — his own song from adoring Kopites. Even when on the bench, the crowd would bellow it out to the tune of Creedence Clearwater Revival's hit Bad Moon Rising. 'He's a lad from Portugal; better than Most read in Football Barely a month ago, I was among a record 1.5million who saw him and his teammates parade the Premier League trophy through Liverpool on an open-top bus. It turned into a harrowing day when a 'Profound loss and shock' - Martin Lipton on death of Liverpool star Diogo Jota dies aged 28 in tragic car crash Two weeks after that day of triumph and horror, Jota lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy with Portugal. And only ten days ago he married his sweetheart Rute, mother of his three young children. Our grief as fans cannot begin to compare with the pain felt by the Jota family, who have lost not only Diogo but his younger brother, Andre. We see our heroes as indestructible, and the striker Jota was no exception I'm sure the club and its supporters will ensure they never walk alone. Over decades as a Liverpool fan, I've stood many times in silent tribute to Kop legends - from No crowd does it better than Anfield. But there will be an added poignancy when Diogo is honoured as he enters the pantheon of lost legends at the age of just 28. I suspect the club will retire the Number 20 he wore as a mark of respect. But his song will echo on the Kop into eternity. 3 Jota the Slotter's crucial strikes earned him the ultimate badge of honour — his own song from adoring Kopites Credit: Alamy
