Spanish police have revealed that excessive speed was likely the cause of the tragic car accident that claimed the lives of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, last week.
The devastating crash occurred on July 3 when Jota’s vehicle veered off a motorway in Spain’s Zamora province. According to the Civil Guard, early findings from the investigation suggest that “marks left by one of the vehicle’s wheels” indicate the car may have been traveling above the speed limit. Authorities confirmed that Jota, 28, was driving at the time of the incident.
Initial reports had pointed to a possible tyre blowout during an overtaking maneuver, which caused the car to crash and catch fire.
The football world was stunned by the news, especially as it came just days after Jota had celebrated his June 22 wedding to longtime partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children. He had posted a wedding video on social media just hours before the accident.
Tributes poured in from fans, teammates, and political leaders in Portugal and beyond. A funeral service was held on Saturday in Gondomar, a suburb of Porto, attended by family, friends, and prominent figures from both Liverpool and the Portuguese national team.
Jota enjoyed a distinguished club career, featuring for Atlético Madrid, Porto, and Wolverhampton Wanderers before joining Liverpool in 2020. He scored 65 goals for the Reds, winning the FA Cup and League Cup in the 2021/22 season, and playing a key role in their historic 20th English league title.
He also earned 49 caps for Portugal and contributed to the nation’s UEFA Nations League triumph earlier this year.
His younger brother Andre Silva, 25, was a midfielder for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division.
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