Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has tragically lost his life in a car accident in northwestern Spain, local emergency services have confirmed. The 28‑year‑old and his brother, André—also a professional footballer—were travelling near the town of Cernadilla, Zamora, when their vehicle veered off the A‑52 motorway at kilometer 65 and burst into flames.
Emergency calls to the 1‑1‑2 Castilla y León operations room reported a vehicle on fire following an accident. “The 1‑1‑2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A‑52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire,” the regional service stated.
Responding agencies included the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU). A Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center confirmed the deaths of both occupants at the scene.
The local council of Zamora later posted: “Two young people died in an accident on the A‑52 [Palacios de Sanabria]. The region’s del Puente Fire Station responded. The vehicle caught fire and the flames spread to surrounding vegetation. They were 28 and 26 years old. RIP.”
Jota, who joined Liverpool in 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee of €44.7 million, made 182 appearances for the Reds, scoring 65 goals and providing 26 assists. He played a key role in Liverpool’s Premier League triumph under Jürgen Klopp in 2022 and was part of the squad that secured the title again last season under Arne Slot. He also featured in the club’s 2022 FA Cup victory.
Just two weeks ago, Jota celebrated his wedding in Porto with long‑term partner Rute Cardoso. His untimely death leaves a deep void in the football community and among fans worldwide.
