Diogo Jota, a forward for Liverpool and a Portugal international, lost his life in a car accident in Spain on July 3. The 28-year-old was involved in an accident on the A-52 highway in the Zamora region of northwest Spain, close to Palacios de Sanabria. He was apparently travelling with his brother, Andre Filipe, a 26-year-old professional football player, who also passed away in the collision. Cristiano Ronaldo was in total disbelief and expressed his grief through an Instagram post.

"It doesn't make sense. We were just together in the national team, and you had just gotten married. 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," Cristiano Ronaldo captioned the post.

Initial reports stated that Jota and his brother were in a Lamborghini and their tyre blew out while they were overtaking another car. Shortly after, the automobile swerved off the road and caught fire, killing both brothers at the spot. Emergency personnel from the Provincial Council of Zamora responded to the scene as the fire spread to surrounding vegetation.

The unfortunate accident happened just 10 days after Jota's marriage to his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso, at a ceremony performed in Porto on June 22. The couple were seen partying with their three kids in wedding photos.

Jota had a successful tenure at Liverpool, where he won the League Cup and the FA Cup under former manager Jörgen Klopp. Most recently, under new head coach Arne Slot, he was a member of the squad that won the Premier League title in the 2024–25 season.

Jota played for Portugal in a number of important competitions abroad. He played in extra time in the UEFA Nations League final against Spain earlier this year as a member of the winning team. He competed for his nation at Euro 2024 as well.