Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has died in a tragic car accident in Spain along with his brother.
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Footballer involved in crash in SpainHis brother Andre also died in collisionLiverpool striker had got married two weeks earlierWHAT HAPPENED?
Jota, 28, and his brother Andre, also a professional footballer, both died shortly after midnight on Thursday when the vehicle they were travelling in came off the motorway in the municipality of Cernadilla, in the province of Zamora in the north west of Spain. Spain's Civil Guard told the the brothers were travelling in a Lamborghini, which left the road and caught fire due to a tyre blowout while overtaking.
AFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Witnesses, who called Spain's emergency services, told the media they saw the car burst into flames, which spread to nearby vegetation. Jota, 28, married his partner Rute Cardoso on June 22. The couple had three children. The Liverpool forward's brother Andre, aged 26, was also a professional footballer. He played for Portuguese second division side Penafiel.
JOTA'S LIVERPOOL CAREER
Jota, 28, joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 in a £41m transfer. He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the Reds. He scored six times last season to help Arne Slot's side win the Premier League title. He also lifted the FA Cup, Community Shield and the Carabao Cup twice with Liverpool. Jota played 49 times for Portugal and last month featured in the UEFA Nations League final victory over Spain.
InstagramLIVERPOOL & PORTUGAL STATEMENTS
Liverpool wrote:" Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
"The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.
"Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.
"We will continue to provide them with our full support."
The Portuguese football federation said it was "utterly devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva this morning in Spain. Far beyond being an exceptional player, with nearly 50 caps for the National Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference within his own community."
