Diogo Jota’s Stolen Lucky Boots: A Mysterious Theft Before the Tragic Crash

The football world continues to reel from the tragic deaths of Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who perished in a car crash on Spain’s A-52 highway near Zamora on July 3, 2025. The accident, attributed to a tyre blowout while overtaking, has already raised questions due to a reported phone battery anomaly and conflicting accounts about the vehicle’s speed. Now, a new detail has emerged: just three days before the crash, Jota’s “lucky boots”—a pair of football boots he cherished—were stolen from his villa in Porto, Portugal. CCTV footage reportedly shows a man wearing a Wolverhampton Wanderers jersey near the property at 2:13 a.m. on June 30, 2025, fueling speculation about the theft’s connection to the subsequent tragedy. This article explores the theft, its context, and its potential significance in the ongoing investigation.

The Theft of Jota’s Lucky Boots

Diogo Jota, known for his superstitions on and off the pitch, reportedly considered a specific pair of football boots his “lucky” ones. These boots, believed to be custom-designed Nike Mercurials he wore during Liverpool’s 2024-25 Premier League title-winning campaign, held sentimental value. According to sources close to the family, the boots were kept at Jota’s villa in Porto, where he and his wife, Rute Cardoso, were staying after their wedding on June 22, 2025. On the night of June 29–30, 2025, an intruder allegedly entered the property and stole the boots, along with other minor items.

CCTV footage from the villa’s security system captured a man wearing a Wolverhampton Wanderers jersey—Jota’s former club from 2017 to 2020—near the property at 2:13 a.m. The footage, described as grainy but clear enough to identify the jersey, has been handed over to Portuguese police for analysis. The man’s face is not fully visible, and no arrests have been reported as of July 21, 2025. The theft was initially considered a minor incident, but its timing—just three days before the fatal crash—has raised eyebrows, especially given other anomalies surrounding Jota’s death.

Context of the Theft

The theft occurred during a tumultuous period for Jota. Having married Rute Cardoso 11 days earlier, Jota was balancing personal joy with professional pressures. He had recently undergone lung surgery due to a rib injury sustained in a match against Chelsea in October 2024, which limited his playing time in the 2024-25 season to 26 Premier League appearances, where he scored six goals and provided four assists. Doctors advised against flying due to potential pulmonary complications, prompting Jota and his brother to drive from Porto to Santander to catch a ferry to England for Liverpool’s pre-season training.

Additionally, Jota had turned down a €52 million transfer offer from an unnamed club—possibly in the Saudi Pro League—on July 1, 2025, a decision that reportedly left him emotional. Club insiders noted that Jota “cried after the call,” torn between his loyalty to Liverpool and the financial security the move could offer his family. The theft of his lucky boots, a symbol of his success and identity as a player, may have added to his stress during this period.

The Crash and Ongoing Investigation

The fatal crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. on July 3, 2025, when Jota’s green Lamborghini Huracan Evo Spyder veered off the A-52 highway near Cernadilla, Spain, and burst into flames. Spanish Guardia Civil initially attributed the accident to a tyre blowout during an overtaking maneuver, with early reports suggesting Jota was driving and possibly speeding. However, two lorry drivers who witnessed the crash disputed this, claiming the vehicle was traveling at a “moderate speed” and that the road’s poor condition—marked by potholes and uneven asphalt—contributed to the accident.

Further complicating the case, forensic analysis revealed that Jota’s phone battery dropped from 56% to 0% in 19 seconds immediately after the crash, prompting speculation of deliberate signal interference. Other details, such as a mysterious 11cm metallic shard found near the crash site (unrelated to the Lamborghini or any known vehicle), an unusual right-turn input on the steering wheel 4.2 seconds before the collision, and skid marks indicating Jota tried to avoid an obstacle for 11 seconds, have deepened the mystery. Additionally, a car tailing Jota’s Lamborghini for 18.6 kilometers before vanishing 0.7 kilometers from the crash site, as captured on CCTV, has raised questions about potential foul play.

Speculation Surrounding the Theft

The theft of Jota’s lucky boots has sparked speculation, particularly in light of these other anomalies. Some theories suggest the theft could be linked to the crash, possibly as an attempt to unsettle Jota or as part of a broader scheme. The appearance of a man in a Wolves jersey is particularly intriguing, given Jota’s history with the club. Jota played 131 matches for Wolverhampton Wanderers, scoring 44 goals and helping them win the Championship in 2018. While he was “adored by fans” and “cherished by teammates” during his time at Wolves, according to a club statement, the jersey’s presence in the CCTV footage has led some to wonder if the theft was a targeted act by someone with a personal or professional connection to Jota’s past.

However, investigators have cautioned against jumping to conclusions. The theft could be a random act of opportunism, as footballers’ homes are often targeted due to their wealth and high-profile status. The Wolves jersey might simply reflect the popularity of the club in Portugal, where Jota’s success at Wolves and later Liverpool made him a household name. Portuguese police are reportedly analyzing the CCTV footage to identify the suspect, cross-referencing it with local crime patterns and potential motives.

Broader Implications

The theft, combined with the crash’s unresolved questions, has intensified scrutiny of Jota’s final days. Previous reports have highlighted other strange details: a deleted text to a contact labeled “M,” two unanswered calls made 11 minutes before the crash, and 36,000 deleted messages recovered from Jota’s phone, including 12 from a contact labeled “Don’t Answer” in the four hours prior to the accident. These elements, alongside the stolen boots and the phone battery anomaly, have fueled conspiracy theories, though no evidence conclusively links them to the crash.

The incident also raises concerns about the security of high-profile athletes. Jota’s villa, located in a relatively secure area of Porto, was equipped with CCTV, yet the theft occurred undetected until after the fact. This has prompted discussions within the football community about improving home security and protecting players’ personal belongings, especially items with emotional or superstitious significance.

The Football Community’s Response

The theft has added to the grief felt by Jota’s family, teammates, and fans. Liverpool FC, which retired Jota’s number 20 shirt in his honor, has expressed devastation, with manager Arne Slot calling him “a friend to everyone” and “the essence of what a Liverpool player should be.” Tributes have poured in from figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, Jürgen Klopp, and Portugal’s prime minister, Luís Montenegro, who described Jota’s death as “a sad day for football.” Fans have gathered at Anfield, leaving flowers, scarves, and notes, while a minute’s silence was observed at Portugal’s UEFA Women’s Euros match against Spain on July 3, 2025.

Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, has been vocal about seeking answers, previously demanding the investigation be reopened based on the lorry drivers’ testimonies and an unexpected screenshot. The theft of the boots, discovered after her husband’s death, has reportedly added to her distress, with sources indicating she views it as a violation of Jota’s memory.

Conclusion

The theft of Diogo Jota’s lucky boots three days before his tragic death is a haunting detail in an already complex and sorrowful story. The CCTV footage of a man in a Wolves jersey near his Porto villa at 2:13 a.m. has raised questions about whether the theft was a random act or part of a larger pattern tied to the crash. While investigators continue to probe the tyre blowout, phone battery anomaly, and other mysterious elements, the football world mourns a player whose talent and humanity left an indelible mark. As Portuguese and Spanish authorities work to uncover the truth, Jota’s legacy endures through his family, his achievements, and the love of fans worldwide.