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Soccer players

Liverpool Star Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Die in Car Crash in Spain

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Diogo Jota, the 28-year-old Portuguese soccer star who played for Liverpool, and his 25-year-old brother André Silva, a professional soccer player in Portugal, died in a car crash on a highway in northern Spain on Thursday. The crash occurred just two weeks after Jota's wedding to his longtime girlfriend, Rute Cardoso. Jota, a forward for Liverpool, was an integral part of the team's Premier League title-winning season in 2024-25, scoring six goals in 26 league games.

Key Takeaways:

  • Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 25, died in a car crash on a highway in northern Spain early Thursday.
  • The crash occurred just two weeks after Jota's wedding to his longtime girlfriend, Rute Cardoso.
  • Jota was a key player for Liverpool, having joined the team in 2020 for 40 million British pounds ($50 million).
  • He scored six goals in 26 league games during the 2024-25 season, including a crucial goal against arch-rivals Everton in April.
  • Jota made 49 appearances for Portugal's national team, starting in 2019, and scored 24 goals.
  • His brother André Silva was a midfielder for Penafiel in Portugal's second division, having joined the club in 2023.
  • Both brothers played soccer professionally, with Jota playing for Liverpool and André Silva playing for Penafiel.
  • The crash was caused by a tire blowout, with the car catching fire and both occupants dying.
  • Liverpool Football Club is "devastated" by Jota's death, calling it an "unfathomable loss."
  • Jota was a skilled player of soccer video games, particularly the FIFA and Football Manager franchises, and owned a gaming team.

Statistics:

  • Diogo Jota died at the age of 28.
  • His brother André Silva died at the age of 25.
  • Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 for 40 million British pounds ($50 million).
  • He scored 6 goals in 26 league games during the 2024-25 season.
  • Jota made 49 appearances for Portugal's national team.
  • He scored 24 goals for Portugal's national team.
  • The car crash occurred on the A-52 highway in northern Spain.

Sources:

  • "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota." - Liverpool Football Club
  • "Doesn’t make any sense," posted Cristiano Ronaldo on Instagram. - Cristiano Ronaldo's Instagram
  • "Diogo was highly regarded by everyone in the national team." - Fernando Santos, former Portuguese national team manager
  • "I was the only player that was playing in the Champions League and the eChampions League," said Jota in 2023. - LUNA Esports
  • "Shock and deep regret" over the deaths of the brothers. - F.C. Porto
  • "Fans left tributes to Mr. Jota outside Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium on Thursday." - Reuters/Temilade Adelaja
  • Victor Mather and Tiago Carrasco contributed reporting. - The New York Times

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