Spanish police have indicated that Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota was likely exceeding the speed limit when the vehicle he was driving veered off a motorway last week, resulting in a crash that killed both him and his younger brother Andre Silva.
The fatal accident occurred on July 3 in Spain’s Zamora province, leaving the football world reeling with grief just days after Jota had celebrated his wedding.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Spain’s Civil Guard said that initial findings from the ongoing investigation suggested speeding played a significant role in the crash.
“The marks left by one of the vehicle’s wheels… everything points to a possible excessive speed beyond the road’s speed limit,” the Civil Guard said.
Investigators also confirmed that Jota, aged 28, was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Authorities had previously reported that the crash may have been triggered by a tyre blowout during an overtaking manoeuvre, which caused the car to leave the road and ignite on impact. The tragic incident took place in the northwestern region of Zamora, and both Jota and Silva, 25, died at the scene.
Just hours before the crash, Jota had shared a video of his June 22 wedding to long-time partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children. The timing of the tragedy, coming less than two weeks after his nuptials, added a particularly painful layer to the widespread mourning.
The deaths of the Jota brothers sent shockwaves throughout the football community. Heartfelt tributes poured in from Portugal, Liverpool, and beyond. Political figures and football stars joined friends, family, and fans for the funeral held on Saturday in Gondomar, a suburb of Porto, the brothers’ hometown.
Jota’s career, though cut tragically short, was filled with remarkable accomplishments. After early stints at Atletico Madrid, Porto, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, he moved to Liverpool in 2020, where he quickly won the admiration of fans with his attacking prowess and work rate.
Over five seasons with the Reds, he scored 65 goals and played a key role in several trophy campaigns. He was part of the Liverpool squad that captured the League Cup and FA Cup in the 2021/22 season and contributed to the club’s historic 20th English league title win last season.
Internationally, Jota represented Portugal 49 times and was a member of the squad that claimed victory in the UEFA Nations League earlier this year.
His brother Andre Silva was a promising midfielder who played for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division. Though less known than his brother, Andre was steadily building a professional career of his own.
What You Should Know
Diogo Jota, who tragically died alongside his brother Andre Silva in a motorway crash in Spain, was believed to be speeding at the time of the accident, according to Spanish police.
The Liverpool forward had just married in June and leaves behind a legacy of club and international success. His younger brother, Andre, also played professional football in Portugal.
