Death of Liverpool forward Jota leaves football world in shock

The football world is shocked by the death of Liverpool and Portugal’s Diogo Jota at the age of 28 in a car accident.

Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, both died in the Zamora province of Spain after their Lamborghini crashed.

The 28-year-old Jota had minor surgery and was being flown back to Liverpool for pre-season training, so doctors advised him against flying, so he had to make the trip by car and ferry instead.

Just 11 days before the fatal crash, Jota wed his long-term partner Rute Cardoso, who he had three children with.

Fans gathered outside Anfield to pay tribute to Jota, who Liverpool described as a “tragedy that transcends” the club.

Jota was “the essence of what a Liverpool player should be,” according to Reds manager Arne Slot.

After their car left the road due to a tyre blowout that occurred while overtaking another vehicle, Jota and Silva, both 25, were killed. Silva is also a professional footballer for Portuguese second-tier club Penafiel.

Both men passed away on Thursday at around 00:30 local time, according to The Guardia Civil.

Jota was supposed to be taking a ferry from Santander to Liverpool by car, but he was also supposed to be returning by boat.

In the south of England, Santander and Plymouth and Portsmouth are both connected by ferry.

Porto and Zamora, which are close to the Portuguese border, are both about 190 miles away.

Liverpool led the tributes to Jota, blaming the “unimaginable loss” the club had suffered from.

In 182 games for Liverpool, he scored 65 goals, helping them to win the FA Cup, League Cup, and title last year.

Later on Thursday, the club released additional statements, with manager Slot paying tribute to a player who had “becomed to be a loved one to everyone at the club.”

Someone who, in addition to being with others, made other people feel good about themselves. a person who gave his family a lot of love.

Slot said he last spoke with Jota to congratulate him on his victory in the Nations League and wish him luck for his wedding.

It was a dream summer for Diogo and his family in many ways, he continued, adding that it was heartbreaking that it should come to this.

According to Slot, Liverpool and its supporters “are completely in tune with” Jota’s family and “the same can be said of the wider family of football.”

It was a privilege to have played alongside Jota and to have been his friend off the field, according to Reds captain Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutchman continued, “We will miss you beyond words and never forget you.” We will ensure that your legacy endures, as they say.

Jota was “the most British foreign player” he had met, according to left-back Andy Robertson.

The Scotland international stated in a caption on Instagram that his wedding day was his most memorable day of his life. From that magical day, I long for his unflagging smile. How enthralled was he with his family and wife?

The club’s owners, Billy Hogan, John Henry, Tom Werner, and Mike Gordon, said in a statement that they had been “numb with grief” as they condolemented Jota’s family.

Beyond the player, according to them, was a truly humble person who was sincere, intelligent, funny, and tough, and he made friends wherever he went. He had a life-affirming infectious enthusiasm.

This is a tragedy that transcends the Liverpool football club, according to Fenway Sports Group CEO Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes of Liverpool’s sporting director.

Before joining Liverpool in 2020, Jota had previously scored 44 goals in 131 games for Pacos de Ferreira, Atletico Madrid, Porto, and Wolves.

His final appearance was against Spain in the Uefa Nations League final against Portugal. In 49 internationals, he scored 14 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the skipper of Portugal, wrote on social media that it “makes no sense.” You just got married, and we were just now playing for the national team.

Ronaldo, a five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, expressed his condolences to Jota’s family, wife, and children, saying, “I know you will always be with them.” Diogo and André, rest in peace. You will be missed by us.

Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager who bought Jota for the Reds, described him as “heartbroken.”

The German wrote on Instagram that “Diogo was a fantastic player, as well as a great friend, a loving and compassionate husband and father.”

On Thursday, a horde of football fans gathered at Liverpool’s home ground in Anfield to pay their respects.

A sea of flowers, football shirts, scarves, balloons, and flags were laid out outside the stadium’s Hillsborough disaster memorial.

John Barlow, a lifelong fan and a survivor of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, called the news “absolutely devastated” and had to halt his work and travel to Anfield.

Jota was a popular player with fans who admired his perseverance and reputation as a laid-back, outgoing person off the field.

Steve Rotheram, the metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said, “The success that he has helped bring to this city will never be forgotten.”