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Diogo Jota, 28, dies in car crash as Liverpool fans and football world mourns

Liverpool star Diogo Jota has died in a car crash at the age of just 28 in a horrific accident that has stunned the footballing world with the Portuguese Football Federation releasing a statement

Liverpool star Diogo Jota, 28, has died in a car crash, according to Spanish publication Marca.

Marca reports the Portuguese forward died early this morning in a traffic accident in the province of Zamora. The accident is said to have happened at kilometer 65 of the A-52, near the Zamora region of Sanabria.

The dad-of-three reportedly died when the Lamborghini he was traveling in with his brother Andre, a 26-year-old professional footballer from Penafiel, went off the road, causing a fatal fire that claimed the life of the Premier League winner and his sibling.

He had just married his fiancee, Rute Cardoso, only 10 days ago, in a wedding took on June 22. The photos showed the couple with their three children, Denis, Duarte, and a daughter born in 2024 whose name has not been revealed.

In a statement the Portuguese Football Federation said: "The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and Andr Silva, this morning, in Spain.

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(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"Much more than the fantastic player, with almost 50 appearances for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his colleagues and opponents, someone with contagious joy and a reference in his own community.

" On my own behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andr Silva, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, the players played.

"The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute of silence, this Thursday, before our national team's match with Spain, in the women's European Championship.

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Liverpool star Diogo Jota dead at 28 as football world mourns

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"We lost two champions. The disappearance of Diogo and Andr Silva represent irreparable losses for Portuguese Football and we will do everything we can to honor their legacy on a daily basis."

Jota was a fan favourite at Anfield having won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup, and scored 65 goals in 182 games in all competitions for the Reds. He made 49 appearances for Portugal, scoring 14 goals and winning the Nations League twice.

Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on X: "The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured the name of Portugal, and his brother is unexpected and tragic. I leave the family my deepest condolences. It's a sad day for football and for national and international sport."

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Sources consulted by Spanish news agency Efe suggest the car may have suffered a burst tyre while overtaking, which is why it left the road and caught fire.

Firefighters extinguished the fire, which spread to the surrounding vegetation, and collaborated with the emergency health services and the Guardia Civil.

Liverpool FC have been approached for comment.

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