Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28.
The deaths of Jota and his brother Andre Silva, also a professional footballer who played for Penafiel, were announced by the Portuguese Football Federation.
According to reports in Spain, the two men died after a car in which they were travelling crashed in Zamora, Spain.
“The Portuguese Football Federation and the entire Portuguese football community are devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva in Spain this morning,” a statement read.
“Diogo Jota was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person who was respected by all his team-mates and opponents. He had a contagious joy and was a reference point in his own community.
“On behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation and myself, I would like to offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Diogo and Andre as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the respective clubs of the players.
“We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day.”
The accident came less than two weeks after Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso. The couple have three children together.
Jota had 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 international goals, and last month won the Nations League for a second time.
He signed for Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club, with nine of those goals coming last season as Arne Slot’s side won the Premier League title.
Jota also lifted the FA Cup and Carabao Cup with Liverpool, and was a Champions League runner-up in 2022.
Jota first came to English football when he joined Wolves in the summer of 2017, initially on loan from Atletico Madrid before the deal was made permanent the following summer.
Jota helped Wolves earn promotion as Championship winners in his first season, and in all scored 44 goals in 131 appearances before joining Liverpool in a deal worth a reported £41million plus add ons.
He began his career with Pacos de Ferreira in his native Portugal before earning a move to Atletico Madrid as a 19-year-old.
However, he never played for the LaLiga club, first joining Porto on loan before moving to Molineux where he played under his compatriot Nuno Espirito Santo.
A statement from Porto said: “Porto is in mourning. It is with shock and deep sorrow that we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who was also our athlete in the youth ranks. Rest in peace.”
