Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has been killed in a car crash in Spain.
The 28-year-old Portugal international was in the car with his brother André, 26, who is also a professional footballer for FC Penafiel in the Portuguese second tier. The accident occurred near the Zamora region of Sanabria in Spain.
A statement from the Zamora Provincial Council read: “Two young people died in an accident on the A-52 (Palacios de Sanabria). The Rionegro del Puente Fire Station (Northern Zone of the Consortium) responded.
“The vehicle caught fire, and the flames spread to the vegetation. They were 28 and 25 years old. RIP.”
Head of the Portuguese federation Pedro Proença said in a statement: “The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, this morning, in Spain.
“Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 caps for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.”
Just five days earlier, Jota revealed on social media that he got married to his long-term partner and the mother of his three sons, Rute Cardoso, on June 22.
Jota came through Gondomar’s youth system before breaking out at Paços de Ferreira in the Portuguese top flight. The versatile forward’s form earned him a marquee move to Atlético Madrid in 2016, although he never made a senior appearance under Diego Simeone. A return to his homeland with Porto brought a return to his best performances and it was somewhat of a coup when second-tier Wolverhampton Wanderers secured Jota on loan.
A cut above the rest of the Championship, Jota carried his prolific return into the Premier League, where he caught the eye of Liverpool in 2020. During his five full seasons on Merseyside, the well-rounded attacker won the FA Cup, reached a Champions League final and lifted last season’s Premier League title.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Liverpool Forward Diogo Jota Dies in Car Crash in Spain.
