Liverpool forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash

Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, police said Thursday.

Liverpool FC, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) also confirmed the incident.

The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed to The Associated Press that Jota and his brother were found dead after their car went off a road on an isolated stretch of highway about an hour west of Zamora. Authorities said the car -- a Lamborghini, according to police -- was in flames.

Firefighters were called in as the fire spread to nearby vegetation, authorities said.

Police were investigating the causes of the crash, which happened past midnight local time. They said there were no other vehicles involved. The bodies were undergoing forensic analysis.

It wasn't clear who was driving the car. Police were investigating whether the crash happened because of a blown tire.

Jota, who was 28, and his brother, who was 25, were both Portuguese players and the only ones in the car, police said.

Jota's death comes weeks after he married Rute Cardoso and in a social media post wrote, "Yes to forever." They have three children, the youngest born last year.

A Civil Guard spokesperson told ESPN that they believe the driver lost control of the car after a tire blew out.

The Spanish Civil Guard is one of the two national law enforcement agencies of Spain. They are a separate organization from the police.

Portuguese media reported that Jota was headed to the northern city of Santander to take a ferry to England after being advised by doctors not to fly following a recent lung procedure. The reports could not be immediately confirmed by The Associated Press.

The funeral is expected to take place in the Portuguese city of Porto on Saturday.

Jota, whose full name was Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, made 182 appearances for Liverpool since joining from Wolves in 2020. He lifted the Premier League title in May, having previously won the FA Cup and two Carabao Cups in his five years at the club.

Silva played with Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower divisions.

"Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota," the club said in a statement.

"Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and André's family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.

"We will continue to provide them with our full support."

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said the club was in shock.

"What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not," he said in a statement. "All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.

"My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.

"My message to them is very clear -- you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football."

UEFA said its thoughts were with relatives, friends and teammates affected "by this heartbreaking loss." It said a moment of silence will be observed at Euro 2025 matches on Thursday and Friday.

Jota began his career at Portuguese side Paços de Ferreira and also played at Atlético Madrid and FC Porto.

Jota won 49 international caps for Portugal, during which he won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and again last month, scoring 14 goals.

The FPF said in a statement: "The Portuguese Football Federation and the entire Portuguese football community are devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva in Spain this morning.

"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 teammates and opponents. He had a contagious joy and was a reference point in his own community.

"The Portuguese Football Federation would like to offer the deepest condolences to the families and friends of Diogo and André, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the respective clubs of the players.

"The Portuguese Football Federation has asked UEFA to hold a minute's silence ahead of our national team's match against Spain in the Women's European Championship on Thursday.

"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."

The Liga Portugal and Atlético Madrid also paid tribute to the two players.

Jota's Portugal teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, sent his condolences to the brothers' family.

"It doesn't make sense. We were just together with the national team, you had just gotten married," Ronaldo wrote in Portuguese in a post on social media.

"To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you."

The Associated Press and ESPN's Adriana Garcia contributed to this report.