Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has tragically died, according to reports from Portuguese and Spanish media.
Diogo ‘Jota’ José Teixeira da Silva, born December 4, 1996, in Porto, was a forward for Liverpool FC and the Portugal national team.
He joined Liverpool in September 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a transfer valued at over £40 million.
During his time at Anfield, he became a vital player, scoring 47 Premier League goals in 123 appearances and contributing to Liverpool’s recent Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup triumphs.
Jota began his professional football career at Paços de Ferreira in Portugal before transferring to Atlético Madrid in 2016.
He was later loaned to Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers, where his performances earned him a permanent move to Wolves in 2018.
His rise in the Premier League eventually led to his high-profile transfer to Liverpool, where he quickly became a fan favorite thanks to his work ethic, intelligence, and scoring ability.
Internationally, Jota earned 49 caps and scored 14 goals for the Portugal national team.
He played in major tournaments and contributed to Portugal’s UEFA Nations League titles in both 2019 and 2025.
His last international appearance came just weeks before his passing.
Off the pitch, Jota had a strong passion for gaming.
He was an avid streamer on Twitch and owned his own eSports team. During the pandemic lockdown, he even reached the top of the FIFA 21 global rankings.
Jota had also been in a long-term relationship with Rute Cardoso since 2012. The couple had three children together.
Jota proposed in July 2022, and they married on June 22, 2025, in a private ceremony surrounded by family and close friends.
He shared photos of the event, captioning them with: “June 22, 2025. Yes to forever.”
Tragically, on the morning of July 3, 2025, Jota and his brother, André Felipe Silva, 26, were involved in a fatal car crash while traveling on the A-52 motorway near the town of Zamora in northwestern Spain.
The vehicle reportedly suffered a tire blowout during an overtaking maneuver, causing it to veer off the road and burst into flames. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.
Spanish news agency EFE confirmed details of the incident early Thursday morning.
