Liverpool striker Diogo Jota dies in road accident in Spain

Liverpool striker Diogo Jota died on Thursday, July 3, at the age of 28, in a road accident that occurred on the night of July 2 to 3, at 12:30 a.m. in the province of Zamora, Spain, reports the Madrid daily Marca , citing Spanish police. His brother André, 26, also a professional footballer for FC Penafiel, also died in the accident.

According to the Spanish daily, the accident occurred at kilometer 65 of the A52 motorway, near the town of Cernadilla, in the Sanabria region, near the Portuguese border. The vehicle in which the footballer and his brother were traveling left the road and caught fire. According to preliminary investigations, the accident may have been caused by a tire bursting while the car was overtaking, the Civil Guard said.

Liverpool reacted on social media Thursday morning, saying they were "devastated by the tragic death" of their player. "It's inconceivable," Cristiano Ronaldo wrote. "We were together with the Selaçao just recently, you had just gotten married. To your family, your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them," the five-time Ballon d'Or winner added on his X and Instagram accounts.

The news of the striker's death was described as "unexpected and tragic" by Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. "It is a sad day for football and for national and international sport," he wrote on X, saluting "an athlete who has greatly honored Portugal."

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, also spoke of "a loss that has shocked all Portuguese people" in a note published on the presidency's website, in which he "deeply deplores the tragic and premature death of football player Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva."

The Portuguese Football Federation, which offered its condolences to the families and expressed its "immense sorrow" , asked UEFA for a minute's silence in their memory on Thursday 3 July, before the start of the Euro match between its women's team and Spain, in the first matchday of Group B, at 9 p.m., at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern (Switzerland).

Having won the Nations League title in early June with Portugal (49 caps, 14 goals), Diogo Jota also won the Premier League this season with the Reds. Taking part in 37 matches for Arne Slot's team, he scored nine goals and provided four assists. The striker got married on June 22 and was enjoying a few days of vacation with his loved ones after this long season.