Diogo Jota, Liverpool and Portugal footballer, dies aged 28 in car crash
Liverpool said they were devastated and tributes were paid by Portugal's prime minister and the country's football federation. It is understood that Jota and his brother, 26-year-old André, who was also killed, were travelling in a car that came off a road in the province of Zamora. André was a professional footballer with the second-tier Portuguese club Penafiel.
The cause of the accident, which happened at about midnight on Wednesday, is not clear, but according to police reports the driver lost control after one of the car's rear tyres was punctured. The car, a Lamborghini, burst into flames and firefighters had to extinguish a blaze in the surrounding countryside caused by the accident.
Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club. He won the Premier League title, the FA Cup and League Cup with Liverpool and the Championship title with Wolves in 2018, and was a two-time winner of the Nations League with Portugal. He was an immensely popular figure in the Liverpool dressing room with a warm and friendly personality.
'Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,' said a club statement which also requested 'the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.'
Jota and his partner were married in Porto on 22 June and announced the news in an Instagram post a few days ago. On Monday Rute shared more pictures from their wedding day and wrote: 'My dream came true.' Jota commented: 'I'm the lucky one.' They had met in high school and started going out in 2013, a year before he turned professional.
Portugal's prime minister, Luís Montenegro, wrote on social media: 'The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured Portugal's name, and his brother is unexpected and tragic. I extend my deepest condolences to their family. It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports.'
Pedro Proença, the president of the Portuguese FA, wrote on social media: 'The Portuguese football federation and the entire Portuguese football community are completely devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, this morning in Spain. Much more than a fantastic player, who played almost 50 matches for the national A team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.
'On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Silva, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where the players played respectively.
'The Portuguese football federation has already asked Uefa for a minute's silence this Thursday, before our team's match against Spain in the Women's European Championship. We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and André Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day.'
The flag on Liverpool town hall has been lowered to half mast as a mark of respect for Jota and his brother.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
19 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Nuno Borges says Wimbledon blocked Portugal shirt as tribute to Diogo Jota
Instead he wore a black ribbon pinned to his hat during Friday's third-round match against Karen Khachanov, but said his team had initially pushed for a more visible tribute. 'I know Wimbledon is usually not very flexible with attire,' Borges told the PA news agency. 'But I was told we could still do something to pay our respects for what happened, so I think it was a nice gesture. 'He was a great footballer. It was a tragedy.' Francisco Cabral of Portugal wearing a black ribbon in memory of compatriot Diogo Jota (Mike Egerton/PA) Borges, who lost a five-set thriller, said his agent contacted Wimbledon about the idea of wearing a Portugal shirt, and even tried to source a white version to comply with dress rules, but it was not approved. 'We initially talked about getting a full jersey to walk on court,' he said. 'I even tried to find one in white, but it was turned down, so we ended up doing something a little smaller.' Asked if Wimbledon should have allowed the shirt, he said: 'I think that's what makes Wimbledon special and different from every other Slam, so I really don't know.' Wimbledon relaxed its 148-year-old dress code in light of Jota's death, allowing players to wear black ribbons or armbands. Borges was among several players who did, including fellow Portuguese doubles player Francisco Cabral. Cabral, who wore a ribbon on his shirt sleeve during a doubles match with Lucas Miedler, said: 'Yesterday the idea of wearing a black strap came up – that was not allowed. 'I asked for permission to use the black ribbon and they let me play with it.' He described it as 'an honour', adding: 'It was not for the best reason – he was an inspiration not only for me but for the country in general. 'He made so much in the sport and conquered so much in my life. If I helped 1% for the family I will be super happy.' Cabral and Miedler lost their second-round match in straight sets to Czech pair Petr Nouza and Patrik Rikl. Wimbledon's dress code has long restricted visible colour on court, and tributes are rarely granted. The gesture marked a rare moment of flexibility from organisers, after the deaths of Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who were killed in Spain while travelling to catch a ferry to England. British doubles player and Liverpool fan Neal Skupski had also taken a black armband for his match on Thursday, but opted not to wear it after learning of the death of his grandmother shortly after coming off court. He said he may wear one 'in the next couple of days'.
Sky News
27 minutes ago
- Sky News
Diogo Jota's family and Liverpool staff attend wake ahead of funeral
22:09:17 We're pausing our live coverage We will be resuming our updates tomorrow, when the funeral for Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva takes place. Here's a recap of what's happened today... Family mourns alongside fans at wake Jota and Silva's wake took place at a church in their hometown of Gondomar this afternoon. The wake was initially private and attended by the brothers' families, including Jota's wife Rute Cardoso, who he married less than two weeks before his death. Staff from Liverpool FC, and former teammates of both Jota and Silva, were also seen arriving. The doors of the chapel were later opened to members of the public, who queued around the square to say their final goodbyes. Funeral details announced The brothers' funeral is scheduled for 9am tomorrow, Gondomar's mayor's office said. Some Liverpool players and staff are expected to attend. More tributes pour in Liverpool forward Mo Salah and ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho were among those who today shared moving tributes to Jota and Silva. At Anfield, former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was seen wiping away tears as he placed a floral tribute outside the stadium. 21:44:32 The main emotion was disbelief as hundreds said a final goodbye By Tyrone Francis, sports producer in Gondomar A steady flow of hundreds, possibly a thousand, people queued patiently in over 30-degree heat to pay their respects at the Capela da Ressurreicao. The small, unassuming white building, symbolic of this close-knit community, saw famous figures and members of the public alike say a final goodbye to Diogo Jota and his younger brother, Andre Silva. Their wooden coffins were positioned a metre apart, side-by-side in the centre of a dimly-lit square room. The hall had three walls lined with pews, full with people, reflecting on the lives of the two footballers, aged just 28 and 25. Quiet sobs and the movement of single sheets of paper being used as fans to keep cool were the only noises audible in the room. Emotions were sombre and visitors wiped the tears that trickled down their cheeks. But the main emotion was one of disbelief that two skilful footballers - with their whole careers ahead of them – are gone way too early. The caskets, surrounded by wreaths and draped in white roses, were the central focus of everyone's attention. No one cared who else was in the room, people cried, people reflected and people prayed with their heads bowed down. Footballers Bernardo Silva, Fabinho and Thiago Alcântara were in the room at the time. But the most poignant image will be that of Diogo Jota's wife, who sat on the floor in between the two coffins, a place she had been since arriving in the early hours of the morning. The queues continued outside where two books of condolence had been set up for mourners to pen their tributes. As bells at the neighbouring church, where tomorrow's funeral service will be held, ring on the hour, every hour, this community remembers two talents, the humble guys who represented them on the grass pitch of the world's biggest stage. 20:41:01 Mourinho reflects on Jota's career Jose Mourinho, who shared an agent with Jota, is the latest figure from the footballing world to pay tribute to the Liverpool star. Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said: "Nothing was easy for him, he had to fight to arrive where he arrived. "He was not chasing protagonism, protagonism found him because of his talent." The Portuguese manager, who was speaking at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, added: "When people leave this world, normally we all say 'such a nice guy'. Diogo was really a nice guy." 20:02:01 Mourners bring flowers to public wake A long line of mourners formed outside the Portuguese chapel where the wake took place. Initially held in private for family, it later opened up to the public, with hundreds queuing around the 17th-century church. Many people brought flowers and some wore Liverpool tops. 19:24:01 'It's unbearable' for Jota's parents, says former Premier League manager Former Chelsea and Spurs boss Andre Villa-Boas has spoken to Sky News sports correspondent Rob Harris outside the wake. Villa-Boas is now the president of Portuguese club Porto, where Andre Silva – who died with his brother in the crash on Thursday – played at youth level. "There's nothing that can overcome the pain of the family," Villa-Boas said. "To a father, to a mother, it's unbearable." Villa-Boas said Jota and Andre were perfect examples of "what a professional [footballer] should be". Addressing the outpouring of tributes from the brothers' local community, Villa-Boas added: "This is something those two boys deserve." 18:43:37 Liverpool staff arrive to pay their respects Liverpool executives and backroom staff have travelled to the church where the wake is being held. The club's CEO, Billy Hogan, and technical director, Julian Ward, are among those who are there to pay their respects. The men all wore black as they made their way to the wake. As we reported earlier (see our 17.27 post), several Liverpool players and staff are expected at Jota's funeral tomorrow. 18:24:02 Portuguese president joins Jota's family and footballers at wake Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has joined the family of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre at a wake for the two footballers. The president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Pedro Provenza, was also seen at the church in Gondomar, where the pair's bodies have been taken. A number of footballers are also there to pay their respects. These include Jota's former Wolves and Portugal teammate Joao Moutinho and Nottingham Forest's Jota Silva. 18:07:48 Minute's silence held at Women's Euros Tributes to Jota are continuing at the Women's Euros tournament in Switzerland. Players from Denmark and Sweden observed a minute of silence shortly before their match in Geneva kicked off this evening. It comes after Spain and Portugal honoured Jota before their game last night. 17:27:28 Liverpool players to attend Jota's funeral – reports Several Liverpool players and staff are expected at Jota's funeral tomorrow, according to The Athletic and Portuguese media. It is believed a flight to Portugal has been chartered by the club, although no arrangements have been confirmed so far. Some players had been due back at the side's training facilities to begin the preliminaries of pre-season testing today. But the phased return was postponed while those at the club come to terms with Jota's death.
Daily Mirror
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal issue statement after Thomas Partey charged with five counts of rape
Arsenal have released a statement after the Gunners former midfielder, Thomas Partey, was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed on Friday that Partey had been charged. Partey has been charged on two counts of rape which relate to one woman, three counts of rape relating to a second woman, and one count of sexual assault relating to a third woman. The Ghanaian international will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday August 5 2025. All the offences are alleged to have taken place during 2021 and 2022. The Met Police say an investigation by detectives commenced in February 2022 after they first received a report of rape. It comes just days after the 32-year-old was released by Arsenal. He departed the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, following the expiration of his contract in North London. Partey joined Arsenal from Spanish club Atletico Madrid in September 2020 after the Gunners paid his £45million release clause. The Ghana international went on to make a total of 167 appearances, scoring nine goals and registering seven assists. In a short statement released to the BBC on Friday night, Arsenal said: "The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, the club is unable to comment on the case." Met Police Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, whose team is leading the investigation, commented: "Our priority remains providing support to the women who have come forward. "We would ask anyone who has been impacted by this case, or anyone who has information, to speak with our team. You can contact detectives about this investigation by emailing CIT@ Partey made 52 appearances for Arsenal last season, his highest tally in an Arsenal shirt across a single campaign. The Gunners have finished second in the Premier League for three seasons in a row and they reached the Champions League semi-finals last term. Mikel Arteta had spoken about his hopes that Partey would be handed a new contract this summer. However, with Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard both expected to join the club, the decision was made to part ways with Partey at the end of his contract.
