MADRID, July 3: Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, 28, has died in a car crash in northwestern Spain. The accident, which occurred shortly after midnight near Zamora in the Castile and Leon region, also claimed the life of his younger brother, aged 26.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed Jota’s death in an emotional statement on Thursday, mourning the loss of “two champions” and vowing to honour their legacy. “Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day,” the federation said.
According to the regional fire department, the vehicle — a Lamborghini — veered off the road and burst into flames. Emergency responders recovered the bodies of two men from the wreckage, later taken to a forensic facility in Zamora for autopsies.
While Spanish police have not yet officially confirmed the identities of the victims, authorities said preliminary information strongly indicates that the deceased were Diogo Jota and his brother.
Jota had recently married on June 28 and was expected to return to pre-season training with Liverpool. His death comes just weeks after helping the club secure the Premier League title, having previously contributed to their FA Cup and League Cup victories.
A beloved figure at Anfield since his move from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances across competitions. He also earned 49 caps for Portugal, and was part of the national squad that won the UEFA Nations League twice.
