Diogo Jota passed away early this morning in a tragic car accident in Zamora, leaving his three children orphaned: Dinis, Duarte, and the youngest of the family. The Portuguese footballer, only 28 years old, was traveling with his brother André when the vehicle veered off the road, causing a fire that ended both their lives. The loss has shaken the sports world, but it especially hits his family hard, just ten days after his wedding to Rute Cardoso, his lifelong partner.
The loss of the striker has left a deep wound not only in his soccer circle but also in his family core. With his recent marriage still fresh in memory, many are wondering how his family will face such a sudden and heartbreaking loss.
Diogo Jota loses his life alongside his brother in a car accident in Zamora
Diogo Jota passed away early this morning after suffering a terrible car accident in the province of Zamora. The Portuguese footballer was traveling with his brother André when the Lamborghini he was driving suffered a tire blowout while overtaking another vehicle. The car veered off the road at mile 40 (kilometer 65) of the A-52 and caught fire completely, causing the immediate death of both.
The news has shaken the international sports world and has caused a wave of condolence messages, especially from clubs where Jota played. His career included stints at Atlético de Madrid, Wolverhampton, and, most recently, Liverpool FC. However, beyond the professional sphere, the tragedy has had a devastating impact on his closest family.
The pain is immense for his parents, Joaquim and Isabel Silva, who had already supported him through very difficult moments, such as the episode of sudden death he overcame in his childhood. Now, they face an even harsher nightmare: losing both their sons at the same time.
Dinis, Duarte and the little one: the three children left without their father after the tragedy
Among the most heartbreaking images left by this tragedy is the memory of Diogo Jota's three children. Dinis, born in 2021; Duarte, in 2023; and the youngest, born in November 2024, whose name has not been released. All three have been left without their father in the most tragic and unexpected way, just as their family life was beginning to take shape after their parents' recent wedding.
Dinis, the oldest, had already begun to share small public moments with his father, such as images on social media or appearances at family events. Duarte, still very young, was just taking his first steps when the accident took away his male role model. The little one of the house, who has not yet turned one, will grow up without the father figure of a man who, according to those who knew him, lived for his family.
Diogo Jota never hid that his priority was his home. In interviews, he spoke emotionally about his role as a father and the balance he found with Rute and their children. That family bond was reflected in the few posts they shared: simple moments, but full of closeness, always together, always protected.
The last public image was precisely of the five of them, smiling at their wedding. Now, the three will have to grow up with the memories built by their mother and the legacy Jota left not only in soccer but as a human being.
Rute Cardoso loses her husband just ten days after marrying him
If the tragedy is difficult for the children, it is even more so for Rute Cardoso, the woman who had been with Diogo Jota since their teenage years. In addition, they married just ten days ago, on June 22, 2025.
Rute's presence was always discreet but constant. They met in high school and had been together since 2012, sharing moves, cities, and raising three children. She also supported Jota throughout his career, from his first steps in Portugal to his rise in the Premier League.
Their wedding was the crowning moment of a love story that seemed straight out of a fairy tale. "June 22, 2025. Yes, forever," Jota wrote when announcing his wedding on social media, accompanied by a family photo with their children.
Just hours before the accident, Rute posted an emotional video of the wedding on her personal profile. Some scenes of the couple dancing, laughing, and hugging their children, along with the message: "A day we'll never forget."
That day, which seemed like the beginning of a new stage full of hope, has become a painful memory. Rute has gone from celebrating the love of her life to having to face, alone, the reality of raising them without him. At 28 years old, she is now at the head of a family that still doesn't fully understand what has happened.
There is no doubt that Diogo Jota's death has left a void impossible to fill in his family. Rute and their three children, Dinis, Duarte, and the little one, now face a life marked by absence. Their love story, cut short by fate, leaves a deep legacy of love, struggle, and unity.