Diogo Jota 1996-2025 sadly died on 3 July in a freak car accident nearing the Spanish & Portuguese border as he was making way to England.
Diogo Jota 1996-2025: A Brief Overview
- Diogo Jota was a Portuguese professional footballer. Known for his role as a forward or left winger, celebrated for his finishing, pace, and dribbling.
- He played for clubs like Paços de Ferreira, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Liverpool, where he won the Premier League in 2024-25 and other major titles.
- Tragically, he passed away on July 3, 2025, at age 28 in a car accident in Spain..
Career Highlights
Diogo Jota, born on December 4, 1996, in Porto, Portugal, began his professional career at Paços de Ferreira in 2014. He quickly maked an impact with his first Primeira Liga goals in 2015.
He later played for Atlético Madrid, though primarily on loan at FC Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he helped secure promotion to the Premier League in 2018. Joining Liverpool in 2020 for £41 million, he made 182 appearances, scoring 65 goals, and contributed to winning the Premier League in 2024-25, the FA Cup in 2021-22, and two EFL Cups. Internationally, he represented Portugal, winning the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
Personal Life and Tragic Passing
Jota married Rute Cardoso on June 22, 2025, and had three children. Sadly, just 10 days after his wedding, he and his brother André Silva died in a car accident on July 3, 2025, in Cernadilla, Spain. Liverpool FC expressed devastation, requesting privacy for his family and teammates.For more details, see Wikipedia – Diogo Jota and Liverpool FC Statement.
Detailed Report on Diogo Jota
Diogo Jota, a prominent figure in professional football, was a Portuguese forward and left winger whose career and personal life left a significant mark on the sport. Born on December 4, 1996, in Porto, Portugal, Jota’s journey through football was marked by notable achievements, personal milestones, and a tragic end on July 3, 2025. This report provides a comprehensive overview of his life, career, and the circumstances surrounding his passing, drawing from reliable sources such as Wikipedia and official club statements.
Biography and Early Life
Diogo José Teixeira da Silva, commonly known as Diogo Jota, was born into a football-loving family in Porto. Standing at 1.78 meters (5 ft 10 in), he developed his skills through youth academies, starting at Gondomar from 2005 to 2013, before joining Paços de Ferreira’s youth setup from 2013 to 2015.
His personal life was enriched by his marriage to Rute Cardoso on June 22, 2025, and he was a father to three children. Jota was also an avid gamer, achieving world No. 1 ranking on the FIFA 21 Champions Leader board in February 2021, and owned the eSports team Luna Galaxy (formerly “Diogo Jota eSports”), streaming on Twitch, which highlighted his diverse interests beyond football.
Club Career
Jota’s professional career began with Paços de Ferreira, where he debuted on October 19, 2014, and scored his first Primeira Liga goals on May 17, 2015, with a brace, becoming the youngest player to score for the club in the top tier. He signed a five-year deal on May 30, 2015, making 41 appearances and scoring 14 goals during his tenure from 2014 to 2016.
In 2016, he moved to Atlético Madrid, but did not make any appearances, instead being loaned to FC Porto for the 2016-17 season, where he scored 8 goals in 27 appearances, including a hat-trick on October 1, 2016, against Nacional and a Champions League goal on December 7, 2016, against Leicester City.
His loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2017, followed by a permanent transfer for €14 million on January 30, 2018, saw him play a pivotal role in their EFL Championship win in 2017-18, scoring 17 league goals and finishing as the club’s fifth-highest scorer. Over 131 appearances for Wolves, he scored 44 goals, with his last game on August 11, 2020.
Jota’s most significant chapter was with Liverpool, joining on September 19, 2020, for £41 million (rising to £45 million with add-ons). He made 182 appearances, scoring 65 goals, and was instrumental in winning the Premier League in 2024-25, the FA Cup in 2021-22, and the EFL Cup in 2021-22 and 2023-24.
His contributions earned him individual accolades, including being named in the UEFA Champions League Breakthrough Team of 2020. Premier League Player of the Month for January 2024, and PFA Fans’ Player of the Month for November 2021.
International Career
Jota’s international journey began with Portugal’s under-19 team in 2014-15, scoring 5 goals in 9 appearances, with his first goal on May 29, 2015, against Turkey in UEFA U19 Championship qualification. He progressed to the under-21 team from 2015 to 2018, making 20 appearances and scoring 8 goals, including a brace on May 25, 2018, against Italy in a friendly. He also played one match for the under-23 team in 2016, scoring once.
His senior debut came on November 14, 2019, against Lithuania, and over his career, he made 49 appearances, scoring 14 goals. Jota was part of Portugal’s victorious UEFA Nations League squads in 2019 and 2025, and featured in major tournaments including the 2022 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2020, and UEFA Euro 2024. His last international match was the UEFA Nations League final on June 8, 2025, where Portugal defeated Spain 5-3 on penalties.
Honours
Jota’s trophy cabinet includes:
- Wolverhampton Wanderers: EFL Championship 2017-18
- Liverpool: Premier League 2024-25, FA Cup 2021-22, EFL Cup 2021-22, 2023-24
- Portugal: UEFA Nations League 2019, 2025
Tragic Passing and Legacy
On July 3, 2025, at 12:40 AM local time, Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, also a footballer, were killed in a car accident in the province of Zamora, Spain, near Palacios de Sanabria on the Rias Bajas Highway (A-52). The accident involved their Lamborghini veering off the road, and reports suggest they were traveling to Santander to catch a ferry back to England for Liverpool’s pre-season training, as Jota had undergone recent surgery and was advised against flying. This tragic event occurred just 10 days after his wedding, leaving his wife, three children, and the football community in mourning.
Liverpool FC issued a statement on July 4, 2025, expressing devastation at his passing, noting it as a “tragedy that transcends” the club, and requesting privacy for his family, friends, teammates, and staff, with full support promised. Tributes poured in from across the football world, with fans gathering outside Anfield to lay flowers, and gestures like Portuguese doubles player Francisco Cabral wearing a black ribbon at Wimbledon on July 4, 2025, after the All England Club relaxed its dress code for tributes.
Detailed Statistics and Achievements
To provide a structured overview, below are tables summarizing his club and international career statistics, as well as individual awards:Club Career Statistics
Club | Years | Apps (Gls) | Key Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
Paços de Ferreira | 2014–2016 | 41 (14) | Debut Oct 19, 2014; first Primeira Liga goals May 17, 2015 (brace); youngest scorer for club in top tier |
Atlético Madrid | 2016–2018 | 0 (0) | Signed Mar 14, 2016; no appearances, loaned to Porto and Wolves |
Porto (loan) | 2016–2017 | 27 (8) | Hat-trick Oct 1, 2016 vs Nacional; Champions League goal Dec 7, 2016 vs Leicester City |
Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan, then permanent) | 2017–2020 | 111 (33) | Loan Jul 25, 2017; permanent deal €14m Jan 30, 2018; 17 league goals 2017–18, promoted to Premier League |
Liverpool | 2020–2025 | 123 (47) | Signed Sep 19, 2020 for £41m; 182 games, 65 goals; Premier League 2024–25, FA Cup, two EFL Cups |
International Career Statistics
Level | Years | Apps (Gls) | Key Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
Portugal U19 | 2014–2015 | 9 (5) | First goal May 29, 2015 vs Turkey in UEFA U19 Championship qualification |
Portugal U21 | 2015–2018 | 20 (8) | Debut Nov 17, 2015; brace May 25, 2018 vs Italy in friendly |
Portugal U23 | 2016 | 1 (1) | – |
Portugal Senior | 2019–2025 | 49 (14) | Debut Nov 14, 2019 vs Lithuania; UEFA Nations League 2019, 2025; 2022 World Cup, Euro 2020, 2024 |
Individual Awards
- SJPF Player of the Month for October & November 2015
- UEFA Champions League Breakthrough Team of 2020
- Premier League Player of the Month for January 2024
- PFA Fans’ Player of the Month for November 2021
Conclusion
Diogo Jota’s career was a testament to his talent and dedication, marked by significant achievements at club and international levels. His passing on July 3, 2025, at age 28, in a car accident alongside his brother, has left a void in football, with tributes reflecting his impact both on and off the pitch. This report, compiled on July 4, 2025, aims to honour his legacy while providing a detailed account for football enthusiasts and researchers.