A tragic car accident in northern Spain claimed the life in the early hours of this Thursday (3rd) of striker Diogo Jota, 28 – a starter for the Portuguese national team and Liverpool player – and his brother André Silva, 25, a Penafiel athlete (Portuguese second division). The disaster occurred on Spain’s federal highway (A-52), near the city of Zamora.
According to preliminary police information (Spanish Civil Guard), there is evidence that the player lost control of the vehicle (a Lamborghini model) due to a tire burst while overtaking. According to reports from the Portuguese press and echoed by international outlets, the player had been advised by doctors not to fly after recent lung surgery, leading him to opt for the land route, reports Metrópoles. The athlete underwent pulmonary surgery and, on medical advice, decided to avoid air travel, as cabin pressure changes could compromise his recovery process. For this reason, he chose to travel by car and ferry boat to the United Kingdom.
According to coverage by the Portuguese newspaper Record, Jota was driving toward the city of Santander on Spain’s north coast. The plan was to board a boat to Portsmouth in southern England, where he would report back to Liverpool for preseason.
According to a statement from the Spanish Civil Guard, the car in which the brothers were traveling suffered a tire burst during an overtaking maneuver, causing the vehicle to lose control and veer off the road. The collision resulted in a fire, causing the immediate death of both occupants.
“The Spanish Civil Guard is investigating a road accident that occurred at 00:30 this morning at kilometer 65 of the A-52 highway, in the municipality of Sanabria, Zamora. A vehicle left the road on the left. The investigation points to a road accident due to a tire burst during an overtaking maneuver. As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and both occupants died. While awaiting the conclusion of forensic examinations, it was possible to identify that one of the fatalities was Diogo Jota, Liverpool FC player, and his brother André Felipe,” the agency reported.
The accident site is near the border with northern Portugal, reinforcing that the land trip was being made on a stretch relatively close to Portuguese territory before heading to Spain’s north coast.
Diogo Jota had officiated his marriage at the end of June to his 10-year partner, with whom he had three children, the last of whom is still a baby. With Liverpool, the striker was champion of the Premier League (English Championship) in the last season. Previously, playing for the Merseyside team, Jota had already won the FA Cup and the League Cup.
The unexpected death of the brothers triggered a flood of dismayed messages from clubs, players, and football federations around the world. The first from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). Playing for Portugal, Diogo Jota scored 49 goals and won the UEFA Nations League twice, the last one ending at the beginning of last month, when the Portuguese defeated the Spanish on penalties.
“We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honor their legacy every day,” the entity posted on its Instagram account.
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo also took to social media to express his grief.
“It makes no sense. We were just together in the National Team, you had just 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,” lamented CR7.
Liverpool, the club defended by Jota for nearly five years, also expressed sorrow in a post on social network X. Jota scored 65 goals in 182 games for the Reds.
“Liverpool Football Club is devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,” the Reds stated.
The Porto club, the city where Jota was born, lamented the athlete’s tragic death, whom he defended in 2016. Jota began his professional career in 2014 with Paços de Ferreira. In 2017, the Portuguese striker swapped “Terrinha” for the United Kingdom, transferring to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Brazilian clubs also used social media to pay tribute to the Portuguese striker, including Corinthians, Santos, Palmeiras, Fluminense, Botafogo, and Atlético Mineiro.
Source: Agência Brasil and www.brasil247.com