Nobody expected to have to deliver this bad news. Diogo Jota, Liverpool footballer, has passed away early this morning at the age of 28. It happened in a traffic accident in the province of Zamora, at kilometer 40 mi. (65 km) of the A-52, near the region of Sanabria.
Diogo Jota passed away when the vehicle he was traveling in with his brother André, 26 years old, veered off the road and caught fire. The car was engulfed in flames, which eventually spread to the nearby vegetation.
Diogo Jota had just gotten married
The Portuguese footballer passed away just a few days after marrying his partner, Rute Cardoso. On June 22, Diogo Jota walked down the aisle after years of dating, sharing the good news through his social media.
Together with his wife, Diogo Jota has three young children who will now be left fatherless. This is news that nobody expected and more details are still to be revealed.
Diogo Jota, a rising career
Diogo Jota was one of the most versatile Portuguese forwards of his generation. At 28 years old, he built a steadily growing career from his humble beginnings at Gondomar SC in Portugal. His talent soon caught the attention of Paços de Ferreira, where he began to show his goal-scoring instinct and ability to play in several attacking positions.
His time at Atlético was brief, but it served as a bridge for a key loan to FC Porto, where he unleashed his potential in a competitive environment. However, it was at Wolverhampton Wanderers, under the management of Nuno Espírito Santo, where Jota made his definitive leap to the elite of European soccer. His ability to adapt to the pace of the Premier League and his connection with Raúl Jiménez made him an indispensable player.
In 2020, Liverpool bet on him, and since then he has been an offensive wildcard for its coaches. He has performed both as a winger and as a false nine, standing out for his mobility, tactical intelligence, and ability to score goals at crucial moments.
Diogo Jota was a key footballer in Liverpool's project. In 2022 he renewed his contract until 2027 and, sadly, he has left our lives far too soon.
From Madrid-Barcelona we send a message of encouragement and love to his family and friends in these difficult times. Rest in peace.