Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota was likely speeding when his car veered off a motorway in Spain last week, resulting in the tragic deaths of both him and his younger brother, Spanish police revealed on Tuesday.
The sudden deaths of Jota, 28, and Andre Silva, 25, on July 3 sent shockwaves through the football world, coming less than two weeks after the striker’s wedding.
An ongoing investigation by the Spanish Civil Guard is examining tire marks left at the crash site, with preliminary findings indicating that the vehicle was traveling at a speed exceeding the legal limit. “Everything points to a possible excessive speed beyond the road’s speed limit,” the Civil Guard stated.
“All tests conducted so far indicate that the driver of the vehicle was Diogo Jota,” the police added.
Authorities had earlier suggested that a tire may have blown out while overtaking, causing the car to lose control, crash, and burst into flames in Zamora province in northwestern Spain.
Just hours before the fatal accident, Jota shared a video of his wedding ceremony on June 22 with his partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children.
The brothers’ deaths have prompted an outpouring of grief in Portugal and among fans of Jota’s Premier League club, Liverpool.
Political figures and star players from both Portugal and Liverpool joined family and friends at a funeral held on Saturday in Gondomar, a suburb of Porto.
Jota, who had previously played for Atletico Madrid, Porto, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, became a fan favorite at Liverpool after signing for the club in 2020.
He scored 65 goals for the Reds across five seasons, helping the club secure both the League Cup and FA Cup in the 2021/22 season, and contributing to Liverpool’s record-equalling 20th English league title last season.
The striker earned 49 caps for Portugal and was a member of the national team that won this year’s UEFA Nations League.
Andre Silva, his younger brother, played as a midfielder for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division.
