By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Liverpool have led tributes to forward Diogo Jota after he died following a car accident in Spain – less than two weeks after marrying his long-term partner Rute
Diogo Jota’s wife posted a heartbreaking message of the pair’s recent wedding earlier this week, writing: “Yes to forever.”
Liverpool and Portugal star Jota, 28, and younger brother Andre, who played for Penafiel in the Portuguese second tier, passed away following a car crash in Spain during the early hours of Thursday morning.
Jota married long-time partner Rute Cardoso on June 22 with his wife posting images from their ceremony on Instagram earlier this week. Accompanying one image, she wrote: “My dream came true.” To which Jota replied: “I’m the lucky one.” The couple had three young children.
The deaths of Jota and his brother Andre Silva, also a professional footballer who played for Penafiel, were first 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 Cernadilla, Zamora.
Police said the tyre of a Lamborghini blew out while attempting to overtake. The vehicle then caught fire.
The Spanish Guardia Civil told the BBC: “The information we have so far is that the car, which was a Lamborghini, was in a road traffic accident and left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking.
It was in the early hours, 00:30 local time (23:30 BST), in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora. The car caught on fire and the two occupants were killed.”
“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.”
Liverpool said in a statement that club is “devastated by the tragic passing” and will provide the forward’s family, friends, team-mates and club staff with support as the “come to terms with an unimaginable loss.”
Porto, for whom the siblings both represented early in their careers, added: “FC 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 André Silva, who was also our athlete in the youth ranks. Rest in peace.”
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