New details have emerged about the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died alongside his younger brother André Silva in a devastating car crash in northern Spain during the early hours of Thursday, July 3.
The 28-year-old footballer was reportedly en route to the Spanish port city of Santander to board a ferry to the UK when the accident occurred.
Jota had recently undergone lung surgery and was advised by doctors not to travel by air, prompting him to make the journey by road.
The £150,000 Lamborghini Urus SUV, which Jota was driving or riding in, is believed to have suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking on the A-52 near the town of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora, just across the Portuguese border.
The vehicle veered off the road, crashed into the barriers, and burst into flames, also igniting nearby vegetation.
Emergency responders arrived shortly after 12:35 a.m., but both brothers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Local media in Portugal confirmed that the siblings were heading to catch a Brittany Ferries service from Santander to Plymouth, scheduled to depart that same day.
Rui Loura, sports editor at CNN Portugal, said Jota had opted to avoid flying due to medical advice: “He had been advised against flying following lung surgery. He chose to drive with his brother to reach the UK by ferry and continue on to Liverpool.”
Victor Pinto, another Portuguese journalist, added: “Diogo sometimes preferred travelling by road due to minor pulmonary discomfort.”
Jota’s death comes less than two weeks after he married his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, on June 22 in his hometown of Porto.
The couple, who have been together since their teens, share three children. Rute recently posted photos from their wedding, captioning them: “My dream come true,” to which Jota replied, “I’m the lucky one.”
The Liverpool forward had been preparing to return for pre-season trainin,g scheduled to begin Monday.
His final Instagram post featured wedding highlights, capturing what he thought would be a joyful new chapter in his life.
The crash site shows the charred remains of the Lamborghini, with debris scattered along the roadside. Police have not confirmed who was driving at the time of the accident.
Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo also mourned the loss, saying: “It doesn’t make sense. We were just together for the national team. To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my deepest condolences and strength. You’ll always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André.”
Jota, born Diogo Silva, adopted the name “Jota” professionally to distinguish himself. His brother André, 26, was also a professional footballer who played for Penafiel in Portugal’s second division.
Jota made 26 appearances and scored six goals in Liverpool’s 2024/25 Premier League title-winning campaign. He was also part of Portugal’s national team and recently contributed to their UEFA Nations League victory over Spain.
The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed the accident, stating that both men were found deceased at the scene. An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
