Spanish police said on Tuesday that Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota was likely driving above the speed limit when his car left the motorway in Spain last week, resulting in a fatal crash that claimed his life and that of his younger brother.
Jota, 28, and his 25-year-old brother André Silva died on 3 July, just days after the footballer’s wedding, a tragedy that sent shockwaves through the sporting world. ALSO READ: Portugal and Liverpool star Diogo Jota dies in car accident in Spain, aged 28.
According to the Guardia Civil, investigators are currently looking into ‘the marks left by one of the vehicle’s wheels. .. everything points to a possible excessive speed beyond the road’s speed limit’.
The accident took place on the Rias Bajas Highway (A52) near Palacios de Sanabria, heading towards Benavente, in the province of Zamora (Castilla y León). The city of Zamora is about 55 kilometres from the border with Portugal.
‘All the tests conducted so far indicate that the driver of the vehicle was Diogo Jota,’ the police added. They said that their report is not yet complete and would ‘be submitted to the Puebla de Sanabria court’.
Authorities had initially stated that a tyre likely blew out during an overtaking manoeuvre, causing the vehicle to crash and ignite.
Just hours before the incident, Jota had shared a video online from his 22 June wedding to his longtime partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children.
News of the brothers’ deaths led to widespread mourning, particularly in Portugal and at Liverpool, where Jota had become a beloved figure.
The funeral took place on Saturday in Gondomar, a suburb of Porto, drawing mourners that included prominent Portuguese and Liverpool footballers as well as political figures, alongside family and friends.
Jota’s career saw him rise through clubs including Atletico Madrid, Portoand Wolverhampton Wanderers before making a significant impact at Liverpool following his 2020 arrival.
Over five seasons at Anfield, he scored 65 goals, playing a key role in Liverpool’s 2021/22 League Cup and FA Cup victories, and helping secure the club’s 20th premiership title last season — a feat that matched the all-time record.
Internationally, he earned 49 caps for Portugal and was a member of the squad that won the UEFA Nations League earlier this year.
His younger brother André was a midfielder for FC Penafiel, a team competing in Portugal’s second division.
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La Guardia Civil baraja la alta velocidad como una de las posibles causas del accidente en el que murieron el jugador portugués del Liverpool Diogo Jota y su hermano.https://t.co/YtsVY7RDaT pic.twitter.com/QWxM1wlZxn
— EFE Noticias (@EFEnoticias) July 8, 2025
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