Liverpool striker and Portugal Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car accident near Zamora, Spain, police said Thursday.
Liverpool FC, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) also confirmed the incident.
The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed to Associated Press that Jota and his brother were found dead after his car left a road on a road isolated from road to approximately one hour west of Zamora. The authorities said the car, a Lamborghini, according to the police, was on fire.
Firefighters were called when the fire extended to the near vegetation, authorities said.
Police were investigating the causes of the accident, which occurred beyond the local time of midnight. They said there were no other vehicles involved. The bodies were experiencing a forensic analysis.
It was not clear who was driving the car. Police were investigating the hypothesis that the accident occurred due to a blown tire.
Jota, who was 28 years old, and his brother, who was 25 years old, were Portuguese players and the only ones in the car, police said.
Jota's death comes weeks after marrying cardoso and in a publication on social networks he wrote: “Yes to always.” They have three children, the youngest born last year.
A Civil Guard spokesman told ESPN that he believes that the driver lost control of the car after a tire exploded.
The Spanish Civil Guard is one of the two national agencies of application of the Law of Spain. They are a separate organization of the police.
Jota, whose full name was Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, made 182 appearances for Liverpool since he joined Wolves in 2020. He raised the premier League title in May, after having won the FA Cup and two Carabao glasses in his five years in the club.
Silva played with the Penafiel Portuguese club in the lower divisions.
“The Liverpool soccer club is devastated by the tragic death of Diogo Jota,” the club said in a statement.
“The FC of Liverpool will not comment at this time and request the privacy of the family, friends, teammates and personnel from André de Diogo and André, the club staff is respected while trying to accept an unimaginable loss.
“We will continue to provide our full support.”
UEFA said her thoughts were with family, friends and teammates affected “by this heartbreaking loss.” He said that a moment of silence will be observed in the portes of the Eurocup 2025 on Thursdays and Fridays.
Jota began his career in the Portuguese team Paços de Ferreira and also played at Atlético de Madrid and FC Porto.
Jota also won 49 international caps for Portugal, during which he won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and again last month, scoring 14 goals.
The FPF said in a statement: “The Portuguese Football Federation and the entire Portuguese football community are devastated by the death of Diogo Jota and André Silva in Spain this morning.
“Digo Jota was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person who was respected by all his teammates and opponents. He had a contagious joy and was a point of reference in his own community.
“The Portuguese Football Federation wishes to offer the deepest condolences to the families and friends of Diogo and André, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the respective clubs of the players.
“The Portuguese Football Federation has asked UEFA to maintain a minute of silence before our national team against Spain in the European Women's Championship on Thursday.
“We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything possible to honor their legacy every day.”
The Portugal League and Atlético de Madrid also paid tribute to the two players.
Jota Portugal teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, sent his condolences to the brothers' family.
“It makes no sense. We were together with the national team, he had just married,” Ronaldo wrote in Portuguese in a publication on social networks.
“For your family, your wife and children, I send my condolences and I wish you all the strength of the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss them.”
Associated Press and Adriana García de ESPN contributed to this report.
