REVEALED: Diogo Jota drove over 1,036km that day — the reason he refused to fly is finally revealed
🚘 A tragic decision that was based on rules, not recklessness.
--------------------

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota was tragically killed in a fatal car crash alongside his brother in the early hours of Thursday morning, plunging the footballing world into mourning

Diogo Jota was killed while making his way back to Liverpool. The 28-year-old passed away on Thursday morning following a fatal car accident in northwest Spain that also claimed the life of his younger brother, Andre Silva.

Liverpool’s pre-season gets underway next week and Jota was on his way to the port city of Santander to catch a ferry back to the UK when the Lamborghini he was travelling in spun off the road and burst into flames near the town of Zamora, following a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle.

The fire damage from the crash was so severe that it prevented tests from being carried out to confirm that the two victims were Jota and his brother. Jota’s wife had to identify the pair as police at the scene had been unable to ID either man.

The Portugal international had been advised not to fly following lung surgery and was planning to sail back to England with his brother. They were heading to Santander, via an overnight stop off in Benavente, and were due to get a ferry back to Portsmouth.

“The surgery he had had was lung surgery and he had been advised against flying following this,” CNN Portugal’s Rui Laura explained. “He was on his way to the northern Spanish port city of Santander to cross the ferry and reach the UK that way and carry on with the car once he reached Britain. He was on his way to Liverpool with his brother.”

Jota had spent time in his homeland after coming on as a substitute in Portugal’s penalty shootout victory over Spain in the final of the Nations League on June 8. While there, he married long-term partner and the mother of his three children, Rute Cardoso, in a ceremony in Porto just 11 days before his passing.

Liverpool squad members were due back at their Melwood training ground for the start of pre-season on Tuesday, with a friendly match against Preston North End scheduled for Sunday, July 13. After that, ties with AC Milan, Yokohama FM and Athletic Club have been pencilled in ahead of a curtain-raising Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace at Wembley on August 10.

Diogo Jota was just days away from returning to Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool released the following statement after news of Jota’s tragic death broke: “Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.

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

Tributes have been pouring in from across the footballing community. Former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard wrote on Instagram: “RIP Diogo. Condolences to his family and friends during this incredibly sad time.”

Jamie Carragher said: “Absolutely devastated by the sad news about Diogo Jota. Thoughts are with his wife Rute and their three kids.”

Some of the tributes to Diogo Jota which have been laid at Anfield(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Some Liverpool fans want the club to retire the number 20 shirt as mark of respect(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo, who played with Jota at international level, wrote: “It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had 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 Andre. We will all miss you.”

Article continues below

Jota’s autopsy, meanwhile, could take ‘several days’ and his family is reportedly being given psychological support. Reports state that the bodies of Jota and his brother are currently at the Zamora Institute of Forensic Medicine, awaiting their respective autopsies.

“The bodies are at the Zamora Institute of Forensic Medicine, where all the necessary tests will be carried out to confirm the identities of the victims,” said the Spanish government’s deputy delegate in Zamora, Angel Blanco. “DNA tests may be necessary and should be sent to the National Institute of Toxicology in Madrid.”

However, the bodies will only be transported to Portugal after said autopsies and tests, and while it is unknown how long this may take, Blanco added: “The results may take several days.”

Article continues below

Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 in a £45million move from Wolves. In five years at Anfield he scored 65 times in 182 appearances, helping the club clinch the Premier League last season, as well as the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022.

He also played for Atletico Madrid, Porto and Pacos de Ferreira, and earned 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 goals. Jota’s brother Andre Silva was also a footballer and played for Liga Portugal 2 side Penafiel.