Liverpool Star Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Die in Tragic Car Accident in Spain

The global football community is reeling after the heartbreaking death of Portuguese football star Diogo Jota, 28, and his younger brother André Silva, 25, in a devastating car crash in northwestern Spain early Thursday morning.

According to Spain’s Guardia Civil, the accident occurred around 12:30 a.m. local time on the A-52 highway in Zamora, a region close to the Portuguese border. Authorities said the crash was caused by a burst tire during an overtaking maneuver, causing the vehicle—reportedly a Lamborghini—to veer off the road and burst into flames. It remains unclear which brother was driving at the time.

Identification of the victims was confirmed through documentation found at the scene and the vehicle’s license plate, with forensic analysis conducted at a morgue in Zamora. The remains were later transported to Puebla de Sanabria, where family members arrived to complete the administrative processes to bring the bodies back to Portugal, according to CNN Portugal.

Officials are also investigating the possibility of speeding as a contributing factor, a source from the Zamora government delegation told PA Media.

The tragedy struck just days after Jota celebrated a personal milestone—his marriage to longtime partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he shares three young children. The couple had tied the knot less than two weeks before the accident.

The family wake began Friday morning at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, the church in the brothers’ hometown just outside Porto, Portugal. The public was invited to pay their respects in the afternoon. The funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. local time.

A Career Cut Tragically Short

Jota was a key figure in Liverpool’s Premier League-winning squad this season, helping the team claim their record-equalling 20th top-flight English title in April. The talented forward appeared in 26 league matches, scoring six goals and registering four assists. Since his transfer to Liverpool in 2020, Jota had scored 65 goals in all competitions and collected major honors including one FA Cup and two EFL Cups.

On the international stage, Jota played a vital role in Portugal’s victory in the 2025 UEFA Nations League, having also been part of the 2019 title-winning squad.

His younger brother, André Silva, was a professional footballer for Futebol Clube de Penafiel, competing in Portugal’s second division, Liga Portugal 2. During his career, André played in over 100 games at both senior and youth levels, tallying 12 goals and 10 assists.

A Wave of Global Tributes

News of the brothers’ deaths prompted an outpouring of grief from fans and figures across sports and beyond.

Cristiano Ronaldo, a fellow Portuguese icon, expressed disbelief, writing that the news “does not make sense.” Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who brought Jota to Anfield, offered heartfelt condolences and “prayers, thoughts and power” to the grieving family.

Current Liverpool head coach Arne Slot shared an emotional statement:

“When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten.”

Beyond the football world, tributes also poured in from global figures. NBA superstar LeBron James and Prince William, heir to the British throne, both expressed their sorrow. Prince William said he was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy.

As fans gather outside Anfield and across Portugal to honor the brothers’ legacy, the world of football pauses to remember two lives lost too soon, marked not only by their achievements on the pitch but by the promise of what could have been.