It began as a rumour too cruel to be true. But by dawn on Thursday, the heartbreak had hardened into fact: Diogo Jota, the gifted and beloved forward for Liverpool and Portugal, was gone. A car crash in Spain had taken not only his life, but that of his younger brother, Andre. In one terrible moment, a young family was torn apart, and the footballing world was left reeling in disbelief.
Diogo Jota, known for his razor-sharp instinct in front of goal and his quiet generosity off it, was just 28. He was just 28.
Jota was travelling with his younger brother, Andre Silva, when their car left the road in the province of Zamora around midnight on Wednesday. Both brothers were killed. Police reports suggest a punctured rear tyre caused the driver to lose control. The car is believed to have caught fire, sparking a blaze in the surrounding countryside. In an instant, a family was shattered and the world of football left stunned.
The news has plunged the football world into mourning. A devoted father of three and a husband of only twelve days, Jota had recently married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso, in Porto on 22 June. Their wedding was a radiant celebration of lifelong love and quiet happiness. Just days ago, Rute posted on social media: “My dream came true.” Jota replied simply: “I’m the lucky one.” Those words now ring with unbearable sadness.
Born in Massarelos, Portugal, in December 1996, Diogo Jose Teixeira da Silva began his professional journey with Pacos de Ferreira. His precocious talent led him to stints with Atletico Madrid and FC Porto, but it was at Wolverhampton Wanderers where he began to shine, helping the club win the Championship in 2018 and announcing himself as one of Europe’s most exciting forwards.
In 2020, Liverpool brought him to Anfield, and he wasted no time winning hearts. Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances, lifting the Premier League title, the FA Cup and the League Cup. He had a knack for crucial goals in big moments, but more than that, he played with a relentlessness and honesty that mirrored the values of the city he came to represent. He wore the red shirt with pride and gave his all every single time.
For Portugal, he was a symbol of promise and pride. Capped 49 times, he scored 14 goals and helped lead the national team to two UEFA Nations League titles, most recently just last month in Berlin. His broad smile as he hoisted the trophy with his team-mates, filled with life and laughter, now serves as one of his final public memories – a moment frozen in time.
On the pitch, Jota was admired for his intelligence, versatility and fearless approach. Off it, he was beloved for his quiet kindness and deep humility. He brought light into every dressing room, treated fans with respect and team-mates with warmth. He was the kind of person who never sought the spotlight, but shone brightly in it all the same. He made football feel human.
Tributes have poured in from across the footballing world. Liverpool Football Club said it was “devastated by the tragic passing” of a player “immensely popular in the dressing room,” and asked for the privacy of his loved ones to be respected “as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.”
The Portuguese prime minister, Luis Montenegro, described the news as “unexpected and tragic” and said Jota had “greatly honoured Portugal’s name.” Pedro Proenca, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, called the loss “irreparable,” adding: “Diogo Jota was not just a fantastic player, but an extraordinary person and a reference in the community itself.”
UEFA has granted a request for a minute’s silence ahead of Portugal’s Women’s European Championship match against Spain in Gothenburg, honouring both Jota and his brother Andre.
Andre Silva, aged 26, was also a professional footballer, most recently with second-tier Portuguese club Penafiel. He was described as “committed and kind-hearted,” sharing with his older brother an unbreakable love for the game. The two were inseparable in life and, heartbreakingly, in death.
The two of them leave behind not only a grieving family, but an aching void in the footballing world – in Portugal, in Liverpool, and in every fan who ever saw Diogo Jota play with the kind of joy that made football feel magical.
Jota is survived by his wife Rute, their three young children, his parents, and a legacy stitched into the fabric of the clubs and countries he gave everything for. His flame has gone out far too soon, but the warmth it gave will never be forgotten. His story has ended, but the love he inspired will echo on – in songs, in silence, and in every heart that breaks a little at the mention of his name.