Diogo Jota dies at 28: LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Liverpool FC, Manchester City, ‘devastated’ and ‘shocked’

The unfortunate passing of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has resonated globally. The 28-year-old Portuguese star and his brother, Andre Silva, who is also a footballer, passed away in a car crash close to the Spanish city of Zamora, as reported by Reuters.

The announcement of his death has devastated both fans and his fellow football players. Según un informe de Reuters, las autoridades españolas afirmaron que Jota estaba al volante del coche que se salió de la carretera, volcó y se incendió, provocando la muerte de él y su hermano Andre. The event was said to have occurred at approximately 00:30 am (local time) on Thursday.

The initial investigation indicates that the car experienced a tire blowout while passing, leading to the deadly accident, the report noted.

Jota, who just wed his longtime partner Rute Cardoso, also leaves three young kids behind. His wife supposedly posted their wedding photos online and expressed that it was when her “dream came true.” Another Newsweek article stated that Pedro Proenca, president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), described Jota as an “extraordinary person” deserving of respect from both teammates and rivals.

Proenca stated that Portugal had lost two champions, emphasizing that the loss of Diogo and Andre was “irreparable for Portuguese football.” In his statement, he allegedly mentioned that FPF had asked UEFA to observe a minute of silence prior to Portugal’s game against Spain in the Women’s European Championship.

According to Reuters, UEFA has announced that a moment of silence will take place at all Women’s Euro games on Thursday and Friday in Switzerland, the host country for the tournament. Liverpool brought Diogo Jota on board in 2020, and he has scored 65 goals across 182 appearances for the club. Meanwhile, his younger brother Andre was a player for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division.

Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club. Andre Silva, Jota’s younger brother, also played football for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division.