Diogo Jota mourned by LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, among others
Fans and celebrities honored the late soccer player Diogo Jota outside of Anfield Stadium in Liverpool and on social media.
Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother died in a car crash in northwestern Spain, according to the Portuguese Football Federation.
The federation confirmed Jota’s death on Thursday, after the regional fire department of Castile and Leon, stated on its website that a car crashed early on Thursday, shortly after midnight.
Two men, aged 28 and 26, were found dead in the car, which burst into flames near Zamora, the capital of the Zamora province, which is in the Castile and León region.
“We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day,” the Portuguese Football Federation said in a statement.
Spanish police told Reuters they could not yet officially confirm the names of the deceased, but everything pointed to it being Jota and his brother. The Lamborghini they were travelling in veered off the road, the spokesperson said.
The bodies have been taken to a forensics unit in Zamora, where autopsies will be performed, they said.
Who was Diogo Jota?
Jota, who got married in June, helped Liverpool win the Premier League last season and also won the FA Cup and League Cup with the Merseyside outfit.
Jota and his wife just had their third baby on November 26, according to posts made on Instagram.
“He just won the Prem, Nations League, and got married all within a month,” wrote one user on Instagram. “And his life has been cut short. RIP”
Jota arrived at Anfield, Liverpool Football [soccer] Club, from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club in all competitions.
He also made 49 appearances for Portugal, twice winning the UEFA Nations League.
Social media reacts to soccer star’s death
“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,” the club wrote in a post on X.
And, on a wedding video posted to Jota’s Instagram, fans are voicing their heartbreak and sending prayers to the soccer player’s family.
“Always [a] champion,” wrote one commenter in Portuguese.
“My condolences, how painful this has been,” said another.
Fans have also posted GIFs of other soccer players and characters crying throughout the comment section.
This story was updated to add more information.
Contributing: Reuters
