Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed his devastation at the tragic death of Portugal team-mate Diogo Jota, stating, “It doesn’t make sense,” in a heartfelt tribute.

The Portuguese football community is in mourning following the deaths of 28-year-old Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva. The brothers lost their lives in a car crash in the Zamora region of Spain during the early hours of Thursday morning.

According to Spain’s Guardia Civil, the Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off the road while overtaking another vehicle, reportedly due to a tyre blowout. The car subsequently caught fire, and both Jota and André died at approximately 00:30 local time.

Ronaldo, who shared many memorable moments on the pitch with Jota—including winning two UEFA Nations League titles for Portugal—paid tribute via social media. He wrote:

“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.”

Portuguese Football Federation statement

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) confirmed the tragic news in a formal statement:

“The Portuguese Football Federation and the entire Portuguese football community are devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva in Spain this morning.

“Diogo was not only a fantastic player, with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person, respected by team-mates and opponents alike. He had a contagious joy and was a role model within his community.

“On behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation and myself, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Diogo and André, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs they represented.

“We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent an irreplaceable loss for Portuguese football. We will honour their legacy every day.”

Liverpool and Porto lead tributes

Liverpool Football Club also issued a statement expressing their grief at the loss of their player:

“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. The club have been informed that the 28-year-old passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, André.

“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request that the privacy of Diogo and André’s family, friends, team-mates, and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with this unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support.”

Jota had only recently married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, less than two weeks prior to the crash. The couple have three children.

A remarkable career cut short

Jota earned 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 goals and providing 12 assists. He played an integral role in their Nations League successes and was considered a key figure for the national side.

Having started his career at Paços de Ferreira, Jota earned a move to Atlético Madrid at the age of 19. Though he never made a competitive appearance for the Spanish side, he impressed during loan spells at FC Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers. His impact at Wolves led to a permanent deal, and he scored 44 goals in 131 appearances, helping them gain promotion to the Premier League.

In 2020, he signed for Liverpool in a deal worth up to £45 million. Over four seasons at Anfield, he made 182 appearances and scored 65 goals. He won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup, and was a Champions League runner-up in 2022.

Jota’s former club, FC Porto, also released a statement of condolence:

“FC Porto is in mourning. It is with shock and deep sorrow that we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who also represented our youth teams. Rest in peace.”

Crash investigation ongoing

A spokesperson for the Civil Guard in Zamora confirmed an investigation is underway:

“The investigation into the crash is being carried out by Civil Guard traffic officers. We believe the car suffered a tyre blowout based on the marks on the road. The full police report will be submitted to a duty court in Zamora, which has launched an ongoing judicial inquiry.

“The report may take four to five days to complete, possibly longer. At this time, it is not possible to confirm the exact speed of the vehicle, but this will be determined through the final investigation. What we can confirm is that no other vehicle was involved, and no one else was injured.”