Portuguese and European soccer are in mourning after the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota. This happened in the early morning of July 3 in the province of Zamora, Spain. Along with him, his younger brother, André Filipe Teixeira da Silva, also passed away.
This is a name that many initially confused with that of fellow Portuguese footballer André Silva, forward for RB Leipzig in Germany. However, these are two different people.
André, Diogo Jota's brother, was 25 years old and was a professional player for FC Penafiel, a club in Portugal's Second Division. His usual position was attacking midfielder, very different from the forward role his brother played. Although his career did not have the same international projection, André was a committed footballer, respected in his environment and with a promising career within Portuguese soccer.
The confusion arose due to the coincidence in name and nationality. André Silva, the well-known international who has played for teams such as Sevilla, Eintracht Frankfurt, and now RB Leipzig, is still alive. He has no family relationship with Diogo Jota. His name trended on social media after the news broke, which forced many users and media outlets to clarify the misunderstanding.
André, Diogo Jota's brother had his own career
In contrast, André, Diogo Jota's deceased brother, was trained in the youth ranks of Gondomar SC, his hometown. Later, he spent time at FC Porto during his youth stage. Since 2020, he had played for Penafiel, where he had established himself as a regular member of the squad. His talent was combined with a discreet character, away from the spotlight, but very close to his family, especially his older brother.
The two brothers kept a close relationship, shared vacations, training sessions, and personal moments. They supported each other both on and off the field. Just ten days before the accident, they had celebrated Diogo's wedding together in the Sanabria area, very close to the scene of the accident.
Diogo Jota and André Silva die in the same accident
The accident happened in the early morning, at mile 40.4 (kilómetro 65) of the A-52 highway, in the municipality of Cernadilla (Zamora). According to the first investigations, a tire failure may have caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, which left the road and caught fire after the impact. Both died instantly, with no chance of rescue.
André's death has been a devastating blow not only for his family, but also for his Penafiel teammates and the Portuguese soccer community. Although he was not a media figure, those who knew him highlighted his dedication, humility, and talent. His sudden death, along with Diogo's, leaves an open wound among those who shared a locker room, training sessions, or simply a family and sporting life with him.
Two brothers, united by blood and soccer, departed together on a morning that will forever be marked in the memory of the sport.