In shocking news that left the world of football in mourning, Liverpool sensation Diogo Jota passed away at the young age of 28 in a car accident on the A-52 highway north of Spain.
He passed away just two weeks after he had wedded teen bride Rute Cardoso in a happy wedding ceremony filled with giggles.
The accidents record that the vehicle, which was moving at a high speed in Castilla y León province’s Zamora, lost control, collided with another, and exploded in flames. 26-year-old André Silva, the younger brother of Jota, was also on board the car. He, like his brother, was also killed in the accident. Zamora provincial council fire brigade emergency services and Spanish medical response units treated the accident. Paramedics provided testimony that the two brothers died instantly in the crash.
It particularly struck Jota’s wife, Rute, and his three young children. The honeymooning newlyweds were on honeymoon yesterday while Jota was thanking God and feeling like the “luckiest man in the world.”
The Portuguese authorities, as directed by the nation’s Football Federation, moved quickly to attempt to gauge the extent of the tragedy. The President of Portugal’s Football Federation Pedro Proença expressed emotionally, not only to honor Jota for nearly half a century of cameo roles for Portugal’s national side but also due to his attitude, discipline, and integrity. Proença was already inclined to pay tribute by holding a minute silence before the next game between Spain and Portugal in the Women’s European Championship.
Jota started his career with FC Penafiel and then reached as far as Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers. He played with Liverpool since 2020 and became an overnight star at the club by playing in an attacking role, playing 41 out of 148 games and trophies such as Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup.
His premature death—after his brother’s death—leaves a gap in football camaraderie and among the fans who were taken aback by his brilliance, modesty, and honesty. Countries and clubs are remembering the player who had been labeled great and favourite teammate with fans.
A tragedy for his family but for the history of the Portuguese game too, it is. It guaranteed the memory of André Silva and Diogo to tread through the remaining days surely, and it guaranteed their passion and achievement never to be lost in memory.
