The world of soccer is in mourning after the tragic death of Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota was confirmed. At 28 years old, the Liverpool forward died this Thursday in a traffic accident on the A-52 highway in Zamora.
The accident took place near the town of Palacios de Sanabria. The athlete was enjoying a few days of rest after having gotten married just a few days ago.
The last image of Diogo Jota: his wedding with Rute Cardoso
Diogo Jota had just married his lifelong partner, Rute Cardoso. The wedding was held on June 22 in Portugal, in a private ceremony attended by family and close friends. Barely ten days later, social media were still showing the last images of the footballer wearing a suit, together with his wife and children.
In one of the most shared photographs, Diogo Jota can also be seen with Rute and their three children: Denis, born in 2021, Duarte, who arrived in 2023, and a little girl born in 2024 whose name is unknown. The image, framed by the joy and emotion of the big day, has become a painful symbol of the unexpected farewell.
A tragedy on the road in the middle of the night
The accident took place after 12:30 a.m. on Thursday. The most heartbreaking part is that his brother André, 26 years old and also a footballer, was also traveling in the vehicle and lost his life in the same incident.
Both were returning from a family vacation when their car left the road for reasons still under investigation. The vehicle ended up engulfed in flames after crashing, causing a fire that spread to the surrounding area.
Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene, including firefighters and Civil Guard officers. Upon their arrival, however, it was already too late. They could only confirm the death of the car's occupants, who were trapped inside.
The fire was brought under control shortly afterward, preventing it from spreading to other areas. Fortunately, the accident did not cause harm to other people or nearby vehicles. However, the magnitude of the loss has been devastating for the footballer's circle and for European sports in general.
Portuguese soccer and Liverpool in shock
Diogo Jota was one of the most beloved figures both in his country and in England. A full international with the Portuguese national team and an important piece for Liverpool in the Premier League, his death has caused a wave of reactions throughout the sports world. Clubs, teammates, and fans have flooded social media with messages of farewell, disbelief, and condolences.