Spanish police have revealed that excessive speed was the likely cause of the tragic car crash that claimed the lives of Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota and his younger brother, Andre Silva. The fatal accident occurred on July 3 in Zamora province, northwestern Spain, sending shockwaves through the football world.
According to the Spanish Civil Guard, preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation suggest that Jota, 28, was driving above the legal speed limit when his vehicle veered off the motorway. Investigators noted tyre marks indicating a loss of control, possibly during an overtaking maneuver. Authorities had initially suspected a tyre blowout might have contributed to the vehicle bursting into flames upon impact. However, all evidence now points to speeding as the primary factor.
The incident took place just days after Jota shared a heartfelt video from his June 22 wedding to longtime partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children. The sudden loss of both Diogo and his 25-year-old brother Andre, a midfielder for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division, has deeply saddened fans, teammates, and the global football community.
Tributes poured in from across the world. Liverpool FC and the Portuguese Football Federation led the mourning, while fellow players and political figures joined family and friends at the brothers’ funeral in Gondomar, a suburb of Porto, on Saturday.
Jota began his professional career at Paços de Ferreira before earning moves to Atletico Madrid and FC Porto. His Premier League breakthrough came at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but it was at Liverpool, where he joined in 2020, that he truly flourished. In five seasons, he scored 65 goals for the Reds, helping them win the FA Cup and League Cup in 2021/22, and playing a vital role in their historic 2023/24 Premier League title campaign.
On the international stage, Jota earned 49 caps for Portugal and was instrumental in their 2024 UEFA Nations League triumph.
The deaths of Diogo and Andre mark a profound loss for football, with fans remembering Jota not only for his talent and tenacity on the pitch but also for his warmth and devotion off it.
