Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has paid an emotional tribute to teammate Diogo Jota following the 28-year-old’s sudden death in a car crash in Spain.
Jota, a key forward for Liverpool and the Portuguese national team, died alongside his younger brother, Andre Silva, in a collision on the A-52 highway in the province of Zamora. The tragic incident occurred just weeks after Jota had represented Portugal in their UEFA Nations League triumph.
“It doesn’t make sense. We were only just in the national team together, you had only just got married,” Ronaldo wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you’ll always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We’ll all miss you.”
The Nations League final on June 8, 2025, in Munich, was Jota’s last match for Portugal. He came on as a substitute during extra time, helping his team secure victory over Spain in a penalty shootout. The win marked his second Nations League title with Portugal, after the first in 2019.
Jota made 49 international appearances for Portugal, scoring vital goals and forming part of a golden generation led by Ronaldo. He made his national team debut in 2019, replacing Ronaldo in a 6-0 win over Lithuania.
Outside international duty, Jota was an integral part of Liverpool’s success in recent years. He scored 65 goals in 182 matches across all competitions, playing a significant role in their 2024–25 Premier League title, as well as their FA Cup and League Cup victories in the 2021–22 season.
Just days before the accident, Jota had celebrated a personal milestone—marrying his longtime partner, with whom he had three children.
His passing has left a deep void in both the national team and club football, with tributes pouring in from across the football world.