Details released on deadly Spain crash of Liverpool's Diogo Jota, brother

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, professional player Andre Silva of FC Penafiel, tragically passed away in a car accident in Spain on Thursday. The incident was first reported by Portuguese media and later confirmed by Spanish authorities, who have provided more information on the details of the crash. The accident took place around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday on the A-52 motorway, a significant route linking Madrid to Galicia in northwestern Spain, near the Portuguese border, according to local authorities in Zamora. Reportedly, the brothers were in a Lamborghini when the vehicle veered off the road and hit a barrier, causing it to catch fire. Emergency services arrived on the scene, where both men were declared deceased. Firefighters also responded to extinguish a wildfire that had spread due to the accident. While the cause of the crash is not officially determined, Spanish police believe that the driver might have lost control following a puncture in one of the rear tires. Aged 28, Jota had recently married Rute Cardoso in Porto, his hometown in northern Portugal, just around 300 kilometers away from the crash site, and the couple had three children. Silva, on the other hand, was 25. Liverpool FC released a statement confirming the tragic news of their player and his brother’s passing, expressing their condolences and requesting privacy for the family, friends, and club members during this difficult time. Following the devastating news, Pedro Proenca, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, paid tribute to Jota and Silva, emphasizing Jota’s remarkable character and contributions on and off the field. Jota, who had represented Portugal in almost 50 senior national team matches, was highly esteemed as one of the country’s premier attacking talents. His sudden death has sparked an outpouring of grief and condolences from the global soccer community, with heartfelt messages from sports icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James, and others.