Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota passed away early this morning in a tragic traffic accident in Zamora. The news has shaken the sports world and has left his wife, Rute Cardoso, devastated. Just a few hours earlier, she had posted an emotional video of their wedding. The couple got married on June 22, just ten days ago, and shared that day with their three children.
Amid the grief his family is experiencing, a video that Rute recently posted on social media has come to light, recalling her wedding with the Liverpool footballer. "A day we will never forget," she wrote alongside previously unseen images from that moment.
The tragic early morning that ended the lives of Diogo Jota and his brother
The accident occurred around 1:30 a.m. at mile 40.4 (kilómetro 65) of the A-52, near Cernadilla (Zamora). The car in which Diogo Jota and his brother André were traveling veered off the road, crashed into an embankment, and caught fire.
Although several witnesses immediately alerted 112 after seeing the flames in the middle of the night, emergency services couldn't do anything to save them. The flames consumed the vehicle within minutes, also spreading to the nearby vegetation and making rescue efforts more difficult.
The two brothers were traveling together toward Portugal. While Diogo Jota was succeeding at Liverpool and was an international with the Portuguese national team, André played for Peñafiel, a team in the Portuguese second division. Two different careers, but an inseparable bond that ended in the worst of tragedies.
The heartbreaking video of Rute Cardoso hours before Diogo Jota's passing
The lives of Diogo Jota and Rute Cardoso changed forever on June 22. In an intimate ceremony, the couple formalized their union surrounded by their children: Denis, born in 2021; Duarte, in 2023; and a girl born in 2024, whose name hasn't been revealed.
The images from that day showed happiness, complicity, and hope for the future. Just hours before the accident, Rute shared on her personal profile a montage with clips from their wedding video. In it, both could be seen smiling, dancing, and hugging their children, accompanied by the phrase: "A day we will never forget."
The images, now viral, are the most eloquent testimony of the void Diogo Jota leaves in the lives of his wife and children. An indelible memory that will remain alive in the collective memory of those who admired and loved him.
The post now takes on a heartbreaking meaning. Many users on social media have pointed out the premonitory nature of the message and have flooded her account with messages of support. Rute's gesture, so intimate and meaningful, has become the last testimony of a love story abruptly cut short.
Meanwhile, Rute Cardoso remains in Portugal, surrounded by her closest circle and completely focused on protecting her three children from the emotional impact of what happened. According to sources close to the family, they haven't yet decided where the funeral will be held, although everything suggests it will be in Porto.
The pain of a family destroyed by tragedy
The news has left not only Diogo Jota's fans devastated, but also his teammates, close friends, and relatives. Liverpool has published a statement expressing their "deep sadness" over the passing of their forward, highlighting his "professionalism, humanity, and commitment to the club."
Meanwhile, the Portuguese Football Federation has declared three days of mourning and has canceled several events scheduled for this week. Diogo Jota was a key figure in the national team and his loss has left a void that's hard to fill.
Since the news broke, thousands of fans have shared messages of condolence and personal memories linked to the footballer. Even rival clubs, such as Manchester United or Chelsea, have paid tribute to him with emotional posts.
In his native Porto, makeshift altars with candles, jerseys, and photos of Jota have begun to appear. Without a doubt, a symbol of a generation of Portuguese footballers who've succeeded in Europe with humility and talent.
There's no doubt that Diogo Jota's passing has shaken the sports world and has left a deep wound among his loved ones. The emotional gesture of his wife Rute Cardoso, sharing her wedding video, has given voice to the heartbreaking moment his family is going through. Today, soccer mourns a talent lost too soon, and a man who lived life to the fullest until the very last moment.