Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother died in a car accident in Spain, police said Thursday.
Spanish police confirmed to the Associated Press that Jota and his brother were found dead after their car drove off a road near the western city of Simora.
The police are investigating the cause. They said no other vehicles were involved.
The 28-year-old Jota and his brother, 25-year-old Andre Silva, are both Portuguese players, are in the car.
Jota also made 49 appearances for the Portuguese national team and helped win the National League last month.
Silva plays with Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower division.
Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 and won three major trophys with the Reds, including last season's Premier League title. He used to play for Wolverhampton and played with Porto in his home country.
Jota's death came to Rute Cardoso a few weeks after the wedding.
There is a photo of Jota on Liverpool's website, which the club calls “unthinkable loss”.
“Irreparable losses”
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, in a social media post, expressed condolences to Jota's family.
The Portuguese Football Federation issued a statement regretting the death. Federal President Pedro Proença said Portuguese football was “completely destroyed”.
“Diogo Jota is not just a great player, but has made nearly 50 appearances in the national team, he is an extraordinary person, respected by all colleagues and opponents. He has contagious joy and is a reference for his community,” Pronza said in a statement.
The Portuguese Federation said the match between Portugal and Spain required silence between Portugal and Spain in the Women's European Championship held on Thursday in Switzerland.
“We lost two championships,” Pronza said. “Their deaths represent irreparable losses in Portuguese football and we will do our best to respect their legacy every day.”
