By: TPA Sports Desk | www.thepointafricanews.com/tpa-sports

The football world has been plunged into mourning following the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother, Andre Silva, in a car accident in Spain. The devastating incident occurred late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, July 3, near the city of Zamora. Jota was 28 years old.

Spanish Civil Guard officials confirmed that the two brothers were killed when their vehicle, reportedly a Lamborghini, veered off the A-52 highway in the municipality of Cernadilla and subsequently caught fire. Initial investigations suggest a possible tire blowout while attempting to overtake another vehicle led to the fatal loss of control. Firefighters were dispatched to extinguish the burning car and a spreading grass fire caused by the impact.

Liverpool Football Club released a statement expressing profound grief: “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre. Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.”

Tributes have poured in from across the globe, including from Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, the Portuguese Football Federation, and football luminaries like Cristiano Ronaldo and Jamie Carragher. UEFA has announced that a moment of silence will be observed at all Women’s EURO 2025 matches on Thursday and Friday in their memory.

Diogo Jota joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 and quickly became a vital player, renowned for his goal-scoring prowess and versatility. He made 182 appearances for the Reds, scoring 65 goals, and played a significant role in their recent successes, including winning the Premier League title (2024-25), FA Cup (2021-22), and League Cup (2021-22, 2023-24). He also earned over 35 caps for the Portuguese national team, helping them secure two UEFA Nations League titles.

Andre Silva, 25, was also a professional footballer, playing for Portuguese second-division side Penafiel. The tragedy comes just weeks after Jota married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso, in June 2025. He is survived by his wife and three young children. The football community mourns the loss of two talented individuals and extends its deepest condolences to their grieving family and friends.