Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota was likely driving over the speed limit when his car veered off a Spanish motorway last week, killing both him and his younger brother, Spanish police confirmed on Tuesday.
The tragic deaths of Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 25, on July 3 sent shockwaves through the football world. The accident came less than two weeks after Jota married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso.
An ongoing investigation by the Civil Guard points to speeding as a probable cause. “The marks left by one of the vehicle’s wheels suggest excessive speed beyond the road’s limit,” authorities stated. All evidence so far indicates that Jota was behind the wheel.
Initial reports suggested the vehicle may have suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking, which caused it to crash and catch fire in the northwestern province of Zamora.
Just hours before the fatal crash, Jota had shared a video of his June 22 wedding to Cardoso, with whom he had three children.
Their deaths sparked an outpouring of grief, particularly in Portugal and among Liverpool fans. Political leaders, teammates, and supporters gathered alongside family and friends at the brothers’ funeral on Saturday in Gondomar, near Porto.
Jota rose to prominence through spells at Atlético Madrid, Porto, and Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining Liverpool in 2020. He scored 65 goals in five seasons with the Reds, winning the FA Cup and League Cup in the 2021/22 season and helping Liverpool secure a record-equalling 20th English league title last season.
Internationally, Jota earned 49 caps for Portugal and was part of the squad that won this year’s UEFA Nations League.
André Silva, his younger brother, was a midfielder for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division.
