Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota died in a car crash in Spain’s Zamora at 28. Here are 10 key points on who he was and how the tragic accident happened.

1. The Crash

Diogo Jota and his 26-year-old brother Andre Silva died in a car accident in the Spanish town of Zamora. According to officials, the accident occurred after Jota’s Lamborghini went off the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle. The car caught fire, resulting in the death of the duo.

2. Jota was advised not to fly

Jota was advised by his doctors to not fly as he underwent a surgery recnetly. Jota was on his way to catch a ferry to Liverpool for the pre-season. He was travelling by car with his brother from Porto to take a ferry from Spain’s Santander. Ferries operate from Santander to both Plymouth and Portsmouth, located in southern England.

3. Jota got married 11 days ago

Diogo Jota got married 11 days before dying in the crash. He tied the knot with his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso. Diogo and Rute are parents to three children. Jota reportedly made a journey by car and ferry to reach Porto for his wedding.

4. Jota shared video of his wedding hours before dying in crash

His last Instagram post was the video of his wedding with Rute, which he shared hours before dying in the car crash. “A day we will never forget,” he had captioned the video. Diogo and Rute had been together since 2012. They had got engaged in 2022.

5. Ronaldo mourns his teammate

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo poured his heart out on Instagram as he mourned the shocking death of his teammate Jota. “It doesn’t make sense,” Ronaldo wrote, struggling to process the loss. “Just now we were together with the national team, just now you had gotten married.” Extending his love to Jota’s grieving family, he added, “To your wife and children, I send my deepest condolences.” Jota was a part of Portugal squad that won UEFA Nations League recently.

It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together with 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. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.

6. Jota loved turbo-charged cars

He loved turbo-charged cars and was often seen visiting his club’s stadium or training centre in top luxrious cars. Jota’s collection of cars mirrored his character- polished, dynamic, and built for speed. Among his standout vehicles were a Porsche 911 Turbo S and a bespoke Range Rover Sport, both epitomizing his adrenaline-fueled way of life. In May 2025, supporters saw him pull up to Anfield in a Tesla Model X, underscoring his flair for the latest in electric automotive technology.

Over the years, Jota’s garage boasted an impressive lineup- from a BMW i5 and Ferrari 488 Italia to a Mercedes G63 AMG, Lamborghini, Audi Q7, and even a Cadillac. His love for both luxury and speed was clear. On the pitch or the road, Jota embraced life with relentless drive and flair, always chasing passion at full throttle.

7. Clubs he played for

He turned professional footballer in 2014. His first senior club was Portugal’s Paços de Ferreira. He played for Paços from 2014 to 2016. He then joined Atletico Madrid in Spain, however, he didn’t represent them as he was loaned out to Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers. He joined Wolves on a full-time deal in 2018 and played for them till 2020. He then joined Liverpool.

8. Achievements

He won English Championship with Wolves in 2018. He won FA Cup 2022, Carbao Cup 2022 and 2024, and Premier League 2025 with Liverpool. He also won the UEFA Nations League with his national team Portugal in 2019 and 2025. Jota also scored 14 goals for Portugal, for whom he played 49 games. In club football, he scored 133 goals in 395 appearances.

9. No. 20 to be immortalised

He wore jersey number 20 with Liverpool. The English club announced that the no. 20 will be immortalised for his contributions as part of Liverpool’s 2024-25 title-winners – the club’s 20th – with his trademark shimmy and strike in front of the Kop to seal victory in April’s Merseyside derby a poignant last goal of his life.

10. Wimbledon breaks 148-year-old tradition to honour Jota

In a rare break from its 148-year-old tradition, Wimbledon allowed players to wear black ribbons to honor Diogo Jota, who tragically died in a car accident. The prestigious tournament, known for its strict all-white dress code, made this exception as a mark of respect. Portuguese players at Wimbledon wore the ribbons on court, a simple yet powerful tribute that showed how the sporting world can come together in shared grief.

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