Sports
Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a tragic car accident shortly after midnight on Thursday when the vehicle they were travelling in came off the motorway in the municipality of Cernadilla, in the province of Zamora in the northwest of Spain.
Jota was a key player for his club and country, earning 49 caps for his nation and winning several accolades. His death sent shockwaves all around the world, with stars like David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and more sending their condolences. Cristiano Ronaldo was a part of the Portuguese team that Jota played for, they shared the stage together. Cristiano Ronaldo said the death “doesn’t make any sense. Just now we were together on the national team, just now you were married. To your family, to your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. R.I.P Diogo and André. We will all miss you.”
A true friend to everyone- Arne Slot about Jota
The last few months of Jota’s life were nothing short of a dream where the Portuguese international saw it all and won it all. He won the Premier League with his club, Liverpool, making key contributions for the team’s title charge, even scoring in the Merseyside derby. Liverpool won their 20th league title. The number 20 will now forever be immortalized at Liverpool because Diogo Jota used to wear the number 20, and his unfortunate death came months after his team’s 20th title win. Liverpool has decided to retire the number 20, paying their respects to Jota.
Jota also won the Nations League with his country, Portugal, a few weeks prior to his death, and subsequently got married to the love of his life on June 22nd. They had met in high school and started their relationship in 2013, a year before he turned professional. The couple has three young children. Liverpool has decided to carry out the rest of Jota’s contract, pay his salary to his family, and arrange for the well-being of his family and loved ones. Jota’s friends and teammates Ruben Neves and Bruno Fernandes publicly promised that they would always look after Jota’s family.
A long-lasting legacy
Liverpool’s ex-manager Jurgen Klopp said, “This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it!” Wimbledon paid tribute to Jota after Francisco Cabral wore a black ribbon during his doubles match on Friday. Cabral was allowed to put the ribbon on his shirt sleeve for the second-round tie after the All England Club relaxed its strict all-white dress code to allow tributes to the Portugal forward.
Beyond his achievements on the field, Diogo Jota was widely respected for his humility, warmth, and infectious spirit. He was known to stay behind after matches to sign autographs, visit children’s hospitals on his days off, and support grassroots football initiatives across Portugal. To his teammates, he was more than a professional—he was more like family. To fans, he was a symbol of perseverance, rising from humble beginnings in Massarelos to the highest echelons of world football.
Jota’s legacy remains forever and he will always be remembered as a champion of the game, a family man, and a friend to everyone.
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