Tragedy in football: Jota and brother killed in accident in Spain

Tragedy in football: Jota and brother killed in accident in Spain

The football world is mourning Diogo Jota and his brother André, who died in a tragic car accident in Spain on Thursday. The incident occurred on the A-52 in Zamora province when their Lamborghini left the road and burst into flames. It remains unclear who was behind the wheel at the time of the accident. Diogo Jota was on his way to Santander to catch a ferry back to Britain after undergoing minor surgery. He leaves behind his wife Rute Cardoso and three children.

The duo, who played together for FC Porto in 2016/17 and were also part of the Portuguese national team, were recently married. Jota, 28, and André, who turned 25, were in Spain for a short vacation in the last few days. Picture reports on the emotional participation of André Silva and his wife Maria at the wake in Gondomar, Porto, where they paid their last respects to their deceased friends.

Reactions from the football world

The news of Jotas and Silva's deaths shocked the football community. Liverpool FC took to social media to express their deep regret at the loss of the talented attacker, who made 182 appearances and scored 65 goals during his time with the Reds. Jota was known for his achievements, including winning the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and reaching the Champions League final. His career was further crowned by victories in the 2019 and 2025 UEFA Nations League with Portugal. At the same time, the Portuguese association also expressed its sympathy by sending condolences to the affected families and clubs.

The tragedy is also being recognized by UEFA and FIFA. Official moments of silence are planned during the matches of the Women's European Championship as well as an expression of mourning during the Club World Cup. Former Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp and national team teammate Cristiano Ronaldo also shared their sadness and condolences for the bereaved. The New York Times highlights how deeply the football world is affected by this tragedy.

Amid this difficult time, Maria, André Silva's wife, reached out to fans and made it clear in an emotional Instagram post that the reports about her husband are not true. She asked for support for the families of the deceased and expressed her sadness with personal memories of Diogo Jota and his brother. André Silva, in turn, recalled the moments they shared on Instagram and said that Jota will always remain part of their memories. “Life is fragile and there are no words for the pain,” he shared. This shows how strong the bonds are between the players and their families.

The mourning for Diogo Jota and André Silva is not only personal for friends and family, but also for their clubs, companions and fans. The loss will certainly leave a lasting impression in the days and weeks to come. It remains to be seen how clubs and associations will appropriately commemorate this painful loss.