By Emeka Blast 
What we know about the death of Liverpool soccer star Diogo Jota and his brother
Crash Details
Date & Location: Early hours of July 3, 2025, around 00:30–00:40 local time, on the A‑52 motorway near Cernadilla, Zamora province, northwestern Spain .
Vehicle: A rented Lamborghini Huracán.
Cause: A suspected tire blowout during an overtaking maneuver, causing loss of control, veering off, overturning, and bursting into flames. No other vehicles were involved .
Outcome: Both brothers—Diogo Jota (28) and André Silva (25)—were pronounced dead at the scene .
👨👦 Who They Were
Diogo Jota:
A forward for Liverpool FC and the Portugal national team.
Scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool; contributed to their 2024–25 Premier League win and other trophies .
Recently married his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, on June 22, 2025, and was father to three children .
André Silva:
Younger brother of Diogo, also a professional footballer playing as an attacking midfielder/winger for Penafiel in Portugal’s second division .
🛣 Purpose of the Journey
The brothers were traveling from Portugal toward Santander, Spain, to catch a ferry to return to England. Diogo had been advised against flying due to a recent minor lung surgery .
📋 Official Response & Investigation
Spanish Civil Guard led the investigation; preliminary findings point to the tire blowout while overtaking .
Emergency services, including firefighters and medical teams, arrived quickly but were unable to save the brothers .
Authorities are also looking into possible speeding as a contributing factor .
🕯 Honors & Tributes
Wake & Funeral:
A public wake was held at Capela da Ressurreição São Cosme in Gondomar, Portugal—attended by family, agent Jorge Mendes, and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa .
Funeral scheduled for July 5 at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar .
Global Mourning:
Massive public grief in Portugal, Liverpool, and worldwide; Anfield saw flowers, scarves, and memorabilia .
Tributes from teammates (Salah, Henderson), coaches (Slot, Klopp), stars (Ronaldo, LeBron, Nadal), and organizations including UEFA, FIFA, and Portuguese officials .
Moment of silence held at Women’s Euro 2025 and flags flown at half-mast .
⏳ Timeline at a Glance
Date & Time Event
June 22, 2025 Diogo Jota marries Rute Cardoso
July 3, 2025, ~00:30 Crash occurs on A‑52 motorway, Zamora
Early July 3 Deaths confirmed by authorities
July 4–5, 2025 Wake (July 4) and funeral (July 5) take place in Gondomar
This deeply tragic accident has shook the football world and beyond—cutting short the lives of two talented, beloved brothers. Investigation continues to shed light on the exact circumstances; meanwhile, an outpouring of love, support, and remembrance continues to pour in from every corner.
