Liverpool player Diogo Jota dies at 28

BarcelonaThe world of football is in mourning. This Thursday night, Portuguese Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota died in a traffic accident at the age of 28. The accident occurred at around 12:40 a.m. at kilometer 65 of the A-52 motorway, in the province of Zamora, near Cernadilla, in the La Carballeda region. Jota was traveling with his brother André Filipo, 26, also a professional footballer from Peñafiel, who also died in the accident.

According to investigative sources, they suffered a puncture while overtaking. As a result, the car left the road and caught fire. Emergency services extinguished the fire and certified the death of the two young men at the scene. Jota had been married to his partner for 13 years and with whom he had three children just eleven days before.

The Portuguese, represented by Jorge Mendes, was on vacation, just days before starting preseason with Liverpool, another of the big European clubs that – like Barça – are not participating in the Club World Cup. He was able to unlock matches and was very useful for Arne Slot, the coach. gridThe English club has already issued a statement to regret the sad news. "Liverpool has been informed that the 28-year-old player [Diogo Jota] has died in a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, André [...] The club will have no further comment at this time and asks that the privacy of Diogo and André's family, friends, teammates and club staff be respected while he attempts to move on." from Anfield Road.

"An infectious joy"

For its part, the Portuguese Football Federation stated in a separate statement that "Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by his teammates and opponents, with an infectious joy, and a leading figure in the community. We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and his brother André [...]. A minute of silence was observed this Thursday at the women's national team's match against Spain in the European Championship."

Once the news broke, various teammates and colleagues expressed their condolences on social media. One of the most special was that of Cristiano Ronaldo, a teammate on the national team. The strength of the world. I know you'll always be with them. ACS Diogo and André.

Separately, Jota's former teammates have also shared their sadness. This is the case, among others, of former Barça player Thiago Alcántara, who played for Liverpool until he retired in the summer of 2024. "I love you, brother. We will always carry you inside," he shared. João Cancelo, another former Barça player with whom Jota shared a dressing room, has also shared his condolences on social media: "You will always be in our hearts, champion. My condolences to all the family and friends during these difficult times."

Several teams in the Spanish league have also expressed their sadness following the terrible accident. "FC Barcelona wishes to express its most sincere condolences for the death of Liverpool player Diogo Jota, and his brother André. Rest in peace," Barça said through X.

Jota had been playing for Liverpool since 2020, when he was signed from Wolverhampton. In his best year in England, the 2017-18 season, he scored 17 goals. He had previously played for Porto and Paços de Ferreira, two elite teams in his country. In 2016, he signed for Atlético Madrid, but never made his debut for Atlético Madrid in a competitive match. He was an attacking player capable of playing on the wings and in midfield, and earned 49 caps for Portugal, with whom he appeared at the 2020 and 2024 European Championships.