Liverpool 'devastated' as footballer Diogo Jota killed in car crash in Spain

LAST UPDATE | 3 Jul

LIVERPOOL AND PORTUGAL forward Diogo Jota has died in a car accident in Spain, at the age of 28.

Jota’s brother, 26-year-old Andre Silva, was also killed in the accident. 

Jota, a father of three, was married last week.

The incident happened on the A-52 in Zamora, Spain this morning. The local authority said emergency services responded to reports that a vehicle had caught fire on the road and that two people had died.

The Portuguese Football Federation has confirmed the death of its player and his brother. In a post to social media, the Federation said it is “utterly devastated” by the deaths Diogo Jota and André Silva.

They paid tribute to Jota, “an exceptional player” with nearly 50 caps for the national team.

“Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference within his own community,” it said.

Tributes left outside Anfield Stadium in memory of Diogo Jota. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

“On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Silva, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where the players, respectively, performed.

We have lost two champions.

“The passing of Diogo and André Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese Football, and we will do everything to honor their legacy daily.”

UEFA has confirmed that a moment of silence will be held during all of the European Women’s Championship matches today and tomorrow in memory of Jota and his brother. 

Jota signed for Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and quickly became a key goalscorer, and was part of their Premier League-winning side last season. 

He made 49 appearances for the Portuguese national team, and was due to be part of the Portugal side that will face Ireland in World Cup qualifying later this year.

Football fans leave tributes in memory of Diogo Jota at Anfield Stadium. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Fans have been leaving tributes outside Anfield Stadium, Liverpool’s home ground, throughout the day. The UK’s deputy prime minister Angela Rayner also laid a floral tribute at the football ground. 

Liverpool ‘devastated’

In a statement, Liverpool said: “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.

Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 3, 2025

“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss,” the football club said. 

“We will continue to provide them with our full support.”

In a later statement, the club confirmed that Jota’s jersey number, 20, will be “rightly immortalised”.

Jurgen Klopp, who was manager of Liverpool until last year and who signed Jota to the club, said on Instagram that he was “heartbroken” by the death of his “great friend”. 

“This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jürgen Klopp (@kloppo)

“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother André. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!”

Klopp sent his “prayers, thoughts and power” to Jota’s wife, children, family and friends. 

Current Liverpool manager Arne Slot also released a statement, saying Jota was the “essence of what a Liverpool player should be”.

Slot added that there was a side of Jota that people didn’t get to see: “The person who never sought popularity but found it anyway. Not a friend to two people, a friend to everyone.

“Someone who made others feel good about themselves just by being with them. A person who cared deeply for his family.”

He said that for all those in the club “the sense of shock is absolute”, describing Jota as a “unique human being”.

Slot mentioned Jota’s recent wedding, saying: “In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this.”

He shared his condolences with Diogo’s wife, Rute, their three children and the parents of Jota and his brother André Silva.

“My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone,” he says, referencing the song so closely associated with the club.

Global tributes

Tributes to Jota have poured in from across the football world. 

The Premier League said in a statement that it was “shocked and devastated”. 

“Our sincerest condolences go to Diogo’s family, friends, Liverpool FC, and all their supporters at this heartbreaking time. Football has lost a champion who will be forever missed.”

Many Premier League football clubs have also been sharing their condolences on social media. 

Former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher has described the news as “devastating”. 

Devastating news about Diogo Jota & his brother Andre this morning.
Thoughts are with everyone of their family & friends, especially his wife Rute & their three lovely kids 💔 pic.twitter.com/BSYBL5yVre

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) July 3, 2025

He said his thoughts were with their family and friends, especially Jota’s wife and their three children. 

John Aldridge, who played for Liverpool in the 1980s, said: “I can’t say the way I feel at the moment.”

The former Republic of Ireland striker said he could not get his head around the news, adding that it was “like a part of my family has passed away”.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who played alongside Jota for Portugal’s national team, said the news of his death “doesn’t make sense”. 

“Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had 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,” he wrote on social media.

“Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.”

Football pundit and former Manchester United player Gary Neville said it was “heartbreaking”.

“All my love and best wishes to his family,” Neville said in a post on social media. 

By Gavin Cooney and originally published on The 42. Subscribe here.

With reporting from Jane Moore, Muiris Ó Cearbhaill and Andrew Walsh