Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota was likely exceeding the speed limit when his vehicle veered off a Spanish motorway last week, killing both him and his brother, Spanish police confirmed on Tuesday.
The tragic accident, which occurred on July 3, claimed the lives of Jota, 28, and his younger brother, Andre Silva, 25, just days after Jota’s wedding to long-time partner Rute Cardoso.
An investigation is ongoing, but preliminary findings from the Civil Guard suggest excessive speed may have been a factor.
“The marks left by one of the wheels point to a possible speed above the legal limit,” said a spokesperson.
Authorities also confirmed that Jota was driving at the time of the crash, which happened in the province of Zamora and resulted in the vehicle bursting into flames. Earlier speculation suggested a tire blowout during an overtaking maneuver may have caused the accident.
Just hours before the incident, Jota had shared a video of his June 22 wedding. The couple had three children together.
News of the brothers’ deaths has sparked widespread grief in Portugal and the footballing world. A funeral was held Saturday in Gondomar, near Porto, attended by political figures, football stars, and grieving supporters.
Jota had a distinguished career, playing for Atlético Madrid, FC Porto, and Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining Liverpool in 2020. He scored 65 goals across five seasons with the club, winning the FA Cup and League Cup in 2021/22 and contributing to Liverpool’s historic 20th league title last season.
Internationally, he earned 49 caps for Portugal and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Nations League in 2024. His brother Andre was a midfielder for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division.
