Diogo Jota, a star striker for Liverpool and the Portugal national team, tragically passed away Thursday in a traffic accident in Zamora, Spain, alongside his younger brother.
The accident occurred when the vehicle Jota was traveling in with his brother, André, 26, a professional footballer from Penafiel, went off the road and caught fire, as reported by Marca.
Witnesses who called emergency services reported that the car was engulfed in flames, which then spread to nearby vegetation.
Jota had recently married his fiancée, Rute Cardoso, just 10 days before the accident. He is survived by Cardoso and their three children: Denis (born in 2021), Duarte (2023), and a daughter born in 2024, whose name has not yet been revealed.
Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers for €44.7 million (US$52.7 million). During his time at Liverpool, he made 182 appearances, scoring 65 goals and providing 26 assists. He won three major titles with the Reds: a Premier League title, an FA Cup and a League Cup.
He made his debut for the Portugal national team in 2019 and scored 14 goals in 49 appearances, winning two UEFA Nations League titles with his country.
