It is indeed a black day (Thursday 3rd, July, 2025) for football globally as Diogo Jota, Andre Silva of same sibling and foremost Nigeria Super Eagles legendary goalkeeper Peter Rufai died in different circumstances.
Today, the world football fraternity and indeed families, sympathisers and well wishers globally were thrown into massive shock with the car accident that led to the sudden death of Portuguese Liverpool FC football player- Diogo Jota (28) who died alongside his younger brother Andre Silva (25) in a ghastly car accident in Spain.
Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, both died after the Lamborghini they were travelling in crashed in the Spanish province of Zamora.
Splash9ja reliably gathered that the 28-year-old Jota was on his way back to Liverpool for pre-season training, making the trip by car and ferry because he had undergone minor surgery so doctors advised him against flying.
Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children, just 11 days before the fatal crash.
Liverpool said Jota’s death is a “tragedy that transcends” the club, while fans gathered outside Anfield to lay tributes.
Reds manager Arne Slot said Jota was “the essence of what a Liverpool player should be”.
According to BBC Sport report, a wake for Jota and his brother will take place on Friday afternoon before their funeral on Saturday in Porto, Portugal.
Jota and 25-year-old Silva, also a professional footballer for Portuguese second-tier club Penafiel, were killed after their car left the road because of a tyre blowout that occurred while overtaking another vehicle.
Liverpool led the tributes to Jota, saying the club was “devastated” by such an “unimaginable loss”.
He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool, helping them win the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022 and the Premier League title last season.
The club put out further statements later on Thursday, with boss Slot paying tribute to a player who had become “a loved one to all” at the club.
The Dutchman added: “Someone who made others feel good about themselves just by being with them. A person who cared deeply for his family.”
Slot said he last spoke to Jota to congratulate him on Portugal winning the Nations League and wish him luck for his wedding.
“In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this,” he added.
Slot said Liverpool and their supporters are “all with” Jota’s family and the “the same can be said of the wider family of football”.
Reds captain Virgil van Dijk said it was a “privilege” to have played alongside Jota and been his friend off the pitch.
“We will miss you beyond words and never forget you,” added the Dutchman. “Your legacy will live on, we will make sure of it.”
Left-back Andy Robertson said Jota was “the most British foreign player” he had met.
In an Instagram post, the Scotland international added: “The last time I saw him was the happiest day of his life – his wedding day. I want to remember his never-ceasing smile from that magical day. How much he was bursting with love for his wife and family.”
A statement from the club’s owners and leadership group, Billy Hogan, John Henry, Tom Werner and Mike Gordon, said they have been left “numb with grief” as they offered condolences to Jota’s family.
They added: “Beyond the player that we all knew was a wonderfully humble human being, he was sincere, intelligent, funny, tough and created connections with people everywhere he went. He had a zest for life that was utterly contagious.”
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo wrote on social media: “It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the national team, you had just got married.”
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo sent his condolences to Jota’s family, wife and children, and added: “I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo e Andre. We will miss you.”
Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager who signed Jota for the Reds, said he was “heartbroken”.
“Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father,” the German posted on Instagram.
“We will miss you so much.”
On behalf of our entire team, we send our condolences to his family, Liverpool FC and the Portuguese national team.
