Liverpool FC, the city of Porto and the global football family are in mourning after Portuguese forward Diogo Jota died in a car accident near Zamora, north-west Spain, in the early hours of 3 July 2025. He was 28.
Spanish Civil Guard investigators say a tyre blow-out while overtaking sent the vehicle carrying Jota and his younger brother André off the A-52 highway, where it burst into flames; both men were pronounced dead at the scene.
Recent joy turned to heartbreak
Barely eleven days earlier, Jota had married his long-time partner Rute Cardoso in Porto, a celebration he described on Instagram as “a day we will never forget”. The couple have three children.
Immediate tributes
- Liverpool FC called the news “devastating” and asked that the family be given privacy.
- Former club Wolverhampton Wanderers said Jota was “adored by our fans, loved by his team-mates and cherished by everyone who worked with him.”
- Portugal’s prime minister Luís Montenegro and the Portuguese Football Federation issued condolences, requesting a minute’s silence before Portugal’s Women’s Euro qualifier with Spain.
Across social media, figures such as Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and thousands of supporters posted messages of grief, many recalling Jota’s smile as vividly as his goals.
From Paços de Ferreira to Anfield: the making of a modern poacher
| Season | Club (competition) | Apps | Goals |
| 2014-16 | Paços de Ferreira | 45 | 14 |
| 2016-17 | FC Porto (loan) | 38 | 9 |
| 2017-20 | Wolves (C’Ship & PL) | 131 | 44 |
| 2020-25 | Liverpool | 182 | 65 |
Born in Porto on 4 December 1996, Diogo José Teixeira da Silva adopted the nickname “Jota” (the Portuguese pronunciation of the letter J) to stand out from the many “Diogos” and “Silvas” in youth football.
At Wolves he morphed from clever inside-forward to lethal finisher, spearheading promotion in 2018 and dazzling in the Premier League. His £41 million move to Liverpool in September 2020 felt like a gamble; it became a masterstroke.
Silverware and statistics
- Premier League champion (2024-25)
- FA Cup & EFL Cup doubles (2021-22)
- UEFA Nations League winner with Portugal in Munich, 8 June 2025 (his last trophy)
- Portugal record: 49 caps, 14 goals (2019-25)
Jota’s 65 Liverpool goals included dramatic hat-tricks, derby winners and a reputation for scoring within minutes of coming off the bench. His exceptional movement between the lines and two-footed finishing let Jürgen Klopp – and later Arne Slot – rotate a relentless front line without losing cutting edge.
Beyond the pitch
Jota’s love of gaming saw him ranked world No. 1 on FIFA-21’s Champions Leaderboard and inspired the launch of his own e-sports team, Luna Galaxy. Friends say the same laser-focus that honed his movement in the box fuelled marathon streaming sessions after training.
A legacy of joy, not just goals
Diogo Jota’s career arc – from second-tier Portugal to Anfield glory – embodies football’s promise that talent, graft and humility can light the world stage. He leaves:
- Memories: the Kop erupting to his late headers; beaming goal celebrations shared with Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott.
- Inspiration: proof to every academy kid that intelligence and tenacity can outweigh stature.
- Responsibility: a reminder of life’s fragility, prompting renewed calls from FIFPRO and UEFA to address player travel safety.
A minute’s silence will precede Liverpool’s pre-season opener in Dublin, while Portugal plan to retire his No. 21 shirt for the remainder of their Nations League defence. Yet perhaps the most fitting tribute will come each time Anfield belts out “You’ll Never Walk Alone” – a chorus Jota made his own with every darting run into the penalty area.
Farewell, Diogo. Your time was brief, but your impact endures.
