The football world continues to mourn the tragic loss of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died in a horrific car accident alongside his brother, Andre Silva, in July 2025. The devastating incident occurred as the Portuguese international was driving to England after being advised not to fly following lung surgery.
The Fatal Journey and Police Findings
In the early hours of July 3, 2025, the Lamborghini Huracan carrying Jota and his brother left the A-52 motorway around 70 miles west of Valladolid, Spain. According to a statement from the Civil Guard in Zamora, the primary cause of the crash was a sudden tyre blowout. The vehicle was overtaking another car when the failure occurred, causing it to veer off the road at approximately 12:40 am before being engulfed in flames.
Emergency services, including firefighters and the Civil Guard, rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the fire. Tragically, both occupants were confirmed dead shortly after their arrival. The police confirmed that no other vehicles were involved and no other individuals were injured in the crash.
Altered Travel Plans and Heartbreaking Aftermath
The journey itself was a last-minute change of plan. Jota had undergone a lung operation and had been medically advised against flying. Instead of travelling by air, he and his brother were driving to the port city of Santander. From there, they intended to take an overnight ferry to Portsmouth before continuing their journey to Liverpool by car.
The tragedy struck just 11 days after Jota married his wife, Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three young children. In a particularly heartbreaking detail, reports indicated that the fire damage was so severe it delayed the formal identification of the victims. It is understood that Jota's wife, Rute, had to personally identify her husband and brother-in-law.
Ongoing Investigation and Football's Loss
The Civil Guard traffic officers are conducting a full investigation. Their final report, which will be submitted to a court in Zamora, is expected to take several more days to complete. While the exact speed of the vehicle at the time of the blowout remains undetermined, investigators stated they would be able to provide an approximate figure based on evidence such as skid marks.
Jota, who would have celebrated his 29th birthday on December 4, 2025, had recently helped Portugal win the Nations League in a penalty shootout against Spain on June 8. His wedding was attended by Liverpool teammates including Andy Robertson and Caoimhin Kelleher, turning what should have been a summer of celebration into one of profound grief for his family, friends, and fans across the globe.
