Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva killed in a car crash in Spain early Thursday morning.
Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, has issued a statement following Diogo Jota’s death.
Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in northeastern Spain early Thursday morning (July 3).
According to the Zamora Provincial Council, they were riding in a vehicle that caught fire before spreading to the vegetation. The Guardia Civil verified the story to BBC Sport.
“Two young people die in an accident on the A-52 (Palacios de Sanabria),” according to a Council statement.
“The Rionegro del Puente Fire Station (Northern Zone of the @DiputacionZA Consortium) has responded.”
“The truck caught fire, and the flames spread across the vegetation.
“They were 28 and 26 years old.” RIP.”
Jota died just ten days after marrying his long-term companion, Rute Cardoso.
Tributes flowed in from all of his past clubs, including Porto, Wolves, Atletico Madrid, and Pacos de Ferreira, while Liverpool also issued a statement.
Former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher and former manager Jurgen Klopp joined in the tributes, and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo also sent a comment on social media.
Then, at roughly 6:10 p.m., Liverpool FC issued a statement on behalf of Slot.
Slot wrote, “What can I say?” What can anyone say at a time like this, when shock and pain are so intense? I wish I had the words, but I know I don’t.
“All I have are feelings that I know many people will share regarding a person and a player we adored, as well as a family we hold dear.
“My first ideas are not typical of a football manager. They are a father, a son, a brother, and an uncle from the family of Diogo and Andre Silva, who have suffered an unspeakable tragedy.
“My message to them is clear: you will never go alone. Liverpool Football Club’s players, staff, and supporters are all behind you, and based on what I’ve seen today, so is the rest of the football community.”
Klopp, who signed Jota from Wolves in 2020, wrote on Instagram that he was “heartbroken” by the news and praised the former Porto academy product as “a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father!”.
He also sent his prayers to Rute and the rest of the family.
Jota scored 65 goals in all competitions for Liverpool, and after winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, he helped the Reds win their 20th league title in Slot’s debut season.
His final professional goal came in the Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield.
A minute’s silence will be observed for Jota when Portugal faces Spain in the women’s European Championship, after a request by UEFA.
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