Egypt Daily News – The world of football is in mourning following the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his younger brother André Silva, 26, in a devastating car crash in northern Spain.
The accident occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning near the town of Cernadilla, Zamora, on the A-52 highway an isolated stretch of road often used by drivers travelling from Portugal to the Spanish ports of Santander and Bilbao. The brothers were travelling in an acid green Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder, a high-performance supercar worth around £180,000. Spanish authorities confirmed the vehicle veered off the road, overturned, and caught fire after reportedly suffering a tyre blowout while attempting to overtake another vehicle.
Emergency services arrived on the scene shortly after 12.35am but were unable to save the brothers. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
The pair were en route to Santander to catch a ferry to the UK, as Diogo Jota had recently undergone lung surgery and had been advised against flying. The road trip was meant to be a practical alternative to air travel as the player prepared to return to Liverpool for pre-season training. The trip came just 11 days after Jota’s wedding to his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in Porto, the city of his birth. The couple shared three children and had recently celebrated their marriage with family and friends.
The news has sent shockwaves across the football community. Liverpool Football Club released a statement expressing deep sorrow, saying the club was “devastated” by the loss and offering full support to the family. Tributes poured in from across the sport, with figures such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville, and Rio Ferdinand expressing their condolences. Rivalries were set aside as players, clubs, and supporters came together in grief.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota’s Portugal teammate, wrote, “It doesn’t make any sense. Just now we were together for the national team, you were just married. To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world.”
Former England striker Alan Shearer described the news as “heartbreaking,” while ex-Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea said, “Sometimes life is very cruel.”
Jota, born Diogo Silva, adopted the surname “Jota” as a professional moniker to distinguish himself in the football world. He had become a vital figure for both club and country. Since joining Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, he had helped the team win three major trophies, including the 2024/25 Premier League title. Internationally, Jota earned nearly 50 caps for Portugal and was instrumental in their Nations League victory over Spain just last month.
His brother André Silva was also a professional footballer, playing in Portugal’s second division for FC Penafiel. The two were the only children of Joaquim and Isabel Silva.
The Portuguese Football Federation confirmed the deaths early Thursday morning and expressed its devastation. Federation president Pedro Proença called Jota “an extraordinary person” who was “respected by all teammates and opponents.” He added that the disappearance of the two brothers represented “irreparable losses for Portuguese football.”
Clubs across Europe, including FC Porto, Sporting Lisbon, Braga, and Napoli, also issued statements of condolence. FC Porto, where Jota once played as a youth, wrote: “FC Porto is in mourning. It is with shock and deep sorrow that we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva.”
At Anfield, fans laid flowers and tributes outside the stadium. Many were seen in tears, mourning the loss of a player admired for his work ethic, humility, and dedication both on and off the pitch.
Jota’s final social media post, shared just a day before the crash, was a video from his wedding day with the caption: “A day we will never forget.” His wife, Rute, had also shared more wedding photos with the message: “My dream come true,” to which Jota replied, “I’m the lucky one.”
The crash is under investigation by the Spanish Civil Guard, with authorities yet to determine who was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident. A statement from the emergency services in Castilla y León confirmed that the vehicle had caught fire and that both occupants were deceased upon arrival.
In Parliament, UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy offered condolences on behalf of the House of Commons, calling it “heartbreaking news.”
As tributes continue to flood in, Diogo Jota and André Silva are being remembered not just for their talents on the pitch, but for the warmth and joy they brought to those around them. Their loss leaves a profound void in Portuguese football and in the hearts of all who knew them.
