A tragic car accident in northern Spain fatally claimed the life of forward Diogo Jota, 28, a regular player for the Portuguese national team and Liverpool, and his brother André Silva, 25, a player for Penafiel (Portuguese second division), in the early hours of Thursday (3). The accident occurred on the Spanish federal highway (A-52), near the city of Zamora. According to preliminary police information (Spanish Civil Guard), the car, a Lamborghini driven by Jota, lost control due to a tire blowout during an overtaking maneuver, resulting in a collision and subsequent fire.
According to information released by the Portuguese press and echoed by international media, 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 lung 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 a report from the Portuguese newspaper Record, Jota was heading to the city of Santander, on Spain’s northern coast. The plan was to board a boat bound for Portsmouth, in southern England, where he would report to Liverpool for preseason training.
According to a statement from the Spanish Civil Guard, the car in which the brothers were traveling suffered a tire blowout 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 traffic accident that occurred at 00:30 this morning at kilometer 65 of the A-52 highway, in the municipality of Sanabria, Zamora. A vehicle veered off the road to the left. The investigation indicates that the accident was caused by a tire blowout during an overtaking maneuver. As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and the two occupants died. Pending the conclusion of forensic examinations, it was possible to identify that one of the fatalities was Diogo Jota, a player for Liverpool FC, and his brother André Felipe,” the agency reported.
The accident site is near the border with northern Portugal, indicating that the land journey was on a stretch relatively close to Portuguese territory before heading to Spain’s northern coast.
At the end of June, Diogo Jota had officially married his partner of 10 years, with whom he had three children, the youngest still a baby. With Liverpool, the forward won 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. He was known not only for his skills on the field but also for his dedication to his family and team.
The unexpected death of the brothers prompted a flood of condolence messages from clubs, players, and football federations around the world. The first came from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). For Portugal’s national team, Jota scored 49 goals and was a two-time UEFA Nations League champion, the last one ending earlier this month when Portugal beat Spain on penalties. The football community, both in Portugal and internationally, was deeply shaken by the loss of these two talented players.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) expressed the personal loss felt by the football community. ‘We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent an irreparable loss 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 used social media to express his grief.
The impact of Jota’s death on his family is profound. ‘It makes no sense. We were together recently with the national team, and 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 where Jota had played for nearly five years, also expressed condolences in a post on social network X. Jota scored 65 goals in 182 games for the club. Reds
“Liverpool Football Club is devastated by the tragic death of Diogo Jota,” the Reds said.
The Porto club, Jota’s hometown team, mourned the athlete’s tragic death; he played for the team in 2016. Jota began his professional career in 2014 with Paços de Ferreira. In 2017, the Portuguese forward left his homeland for the United Kingdom when he was transferred to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Brazilian clubs also used social media to pay tribute to the Portuguese forward, including Corinthians, Santos, Palmeiras, Fluminense, Botafogo, and Atlético Mineiro.
Source: Agência Brasil and www.brasil247.com