MADRID, July 3 (Reuters) – Liverpool’s Portuguese ahead Diogo Jota and his brother died in a automotive crash in northwestern Spain early on Thursday, when their Lamborghini veered off the street and burst into flames, authorities stated.
Proof on the scene of the crash close to town of Zamora suggests Jota’s automotive suffered a burst tyre whereas overtaking, Spanish police stated in a press release. The crash occurred round 00:30 a.m.
Jota, 28, had simply married his accomplice of ten years in late June, with whom he had three kids.
“It doesn’t make sense. We were only just in the national team together, you’d only just got married,” fellow Portugal worldwide Cristiano Ronaldo stated on X.
Liverpool Soccer Membership stated it was devastated by the information of Jota’s dying.
Followers started laying flowers in his reminiscence on the crew’s Anfield stadium. Jota arrived at Anfield in 2020 and scored 65 objectives in 182 appearances for the membership in all competitions.
Maja Hitij – UEFA through Getty Pictures
Jota’s brother, who died alongside him, was additionally a footballer, with Penafiel within the Portuguese second division.
“We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day,” the Portuguese Soccer Federation stated.
A minute’s silence can be noticed in any respect of Thursday’s and Friday’s matches on the Girls’s Euros happening in Switzerland, UEFA stated in a press release.
“The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured the name of Portugal, and his brother, is unexpected and tragic,” Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro stated on X. “I offer my most sincere condolences to his family.”
Peter Byrne – PA Pictures through Getty Pictures
Jota helped Liverpool win the Premier League final season, scoring the derby winner towards Everton and in addition received the FA Cup in 2022 and League Cup in 2022 and 2024 with the Merseyside outfit.
Born in Porto, he started his profession with native crew Pacos de Ferreira earlier than switching to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017.
“We are heartbroken. Diogo was adored by our fans, loved by his teammates and cherished by everyone who worked with him during his time at Wolves,” the membership stated.
Pacos de Ferreira stated in a press release that each brothers had left their mark on the small membership situated east of Porto.
“Diogo Jota became a reference for this club,” it stated on social media. “An athlete with a champion’s attitude who reached the highest levels of professional football. His name is part of our history.”
He additionally made 49 appearances for Portugal, twice successful the UEFA Nations League.
“It is a remarkable achievement for a small guy that came from Gondomar, where I had this dream,” Jota stated on Liverpool’s web site of successful the Premier League. “It’s a moment I will cherish forever.”
(Reporting by Emma Pinedo, Martyn Herman and Catarina Demony; writing by Charlie Devereux, modifying by Alexandra Hudson)
