Liverpool Star Diogo Jota Dies in Car Crash in Spain
According to Spanish authorities, the brothers were traveling in a Lamborghini around 12:30 a.m. when a suspected tire blowout during an overtaking maneuver caused the vehicle to veer off the A‑52, ignite, and burst into flames. Both died at the scene.
Jota, 28, had recently celebrated a whirlwind period in his life: he earned his second UEFA Nations League title with Portugal, clinched the Premier League with Liverpool, and married longtime partner Rute Cardoso on 22 June. The couple shared three young children.
Liverpool FC expressed its devastation in an official statement, appealing for privacy for the families and pledging continued support. Likewise, tributes poured in from football legends, clubs across Europe, and prominent public figures, including the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer. UEFA and the Portuguese Football Federation announced minutes of silence ahead of matches to honor their memory.
Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers, scoring 65 goals in 182 matches and helping the Reds secure major honours, including the 2024–25 Premier League. His brother André, aged 25, had also followed a footballing path, playing for Penafiel in Portugal's second tier.
The Spanish Guardia Civil attributed the cause of the accident to the tire blowout, which led to a fire and the death of both brothers.
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