Who was Diogo Jota? Liverpool football star died in car accident in Spain

In an unfortunate turn of events on Thursday, 28 June, Portuguese and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota lost his life in a tragic car accident near Zamora, Spain, sending a wave of emotional turmoil through the football fraternity. The 28-year-old Portuguese was travelling with his brother when his car met with an accident. According to witness reports, Jota’s car was engulfed in flames after the crash.

 

Jota had enjoyed a successful last season, winning the English Premier League title with Liverpool and UEFA Euro 2025 with Portugal, making his demise even more tragic for his fans. 

 

Who was Diogo Jota?

Jota was born on 4 December 1996 in Porto, Portugal. He began his professional career with Paços de Ferreira in 2014 and quickly made an impression with his composure and flair. His potential earned him a move to Atlético Madrid in 2016, but he did not feature in the first team and instead went on loan spells to FC Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

 

At Wolves, he played a pivotal role in the club’s promotion to the Premier League and established himself as one of the standout forwards in English football. He scored 44 goals in 131 appearances for the Midlands side before securing a move to Liverpool.

Success at Liverpool

Diogo Jota joined Liverpool in September 2020 and soon became a key part of Jürgen Klopp’s attacking line-up. In his five years at the club, he made 182 appearances and scored 65 goals across all competitions. His performances contributed to Liverpool’s recent successes, including the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup titles.

International career

On the international stage, Diogo Jota earned 49 caps for Portugal and scored 14 goals. He was part of the national team that won the UEFA Nations League twice and featured regularly in major tournaments. He was widely regarded as a player who embodied Portugal’s modern, attacking football.

Personal life and legacy

Diogo Jota had recently married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso, on 22 June 2025, just 11 days before his death. The couple had three children. Off the pitch, he was known for his cheerful personality and humility, and was deeply respected by teammates and rivals alike.

 

News of his death has prompted an outpouring of grief from across the football world. Tributes poured in from Portugal’s prime minister and senior football officials. The Portuguese Football Federation has requested UEFA to hold a minute’s silence before Portugal’s Women’s European Championship fixture against Spain to honour both Jota and André Silva.

 

Jota leaves behind a legacy not just of goals and trophies, but of spirit, leadership and joy. His sudden passing is an immeasurable loss for football.