Just two weeks on from his ‘dream’ wedding, Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has died in a tragic car accident in Northern Spain, aged just 28. His death was confirmed in a heartbreaking post shared by the Portuguese Football Federation on Instagram this morning (July 3).
In the days prior to his death, the footballer received an outpouring of support online after tying the knot with long-term partner, Rute Cardoso. The Liverpool FC striker was a key player for the club since 2020, scoring numerous crucial goals, including nine last season. Throughout his career, Jota netted 65 times in 182 appearances.
Off the pitch, Jota was in a relationship with wife Rute since 2012, and the couple had three children together. The couple reportedly met aged just 13, with wife Rute enjoying travelling with her footballer husband and also watching Peaky Blinders, according to The Sun.
In July 2022, Jota proposed to Rute in a picturesque lakeside setting.
The couple recently shared the news of their nuptials on social media. On Instagram, Rute and Jota posted pictures from the wedding ceremony, which took place in a grand church last month, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The photos showed the couple with their children in front of the altar, as well as the newlyweds emerging from the ceremony with a bouquet of flowers. Their caption read: “June 22, 2025. Yes to forever.”
The post garnered over 190,000 likes and over 1,000 comments, including love heart emojis from fellow Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and Natalia Becker, wife of goalkeeper Alisson.
On X, Jota shared the post and received many congratulatory messages from Liverpool fans. One fan said: “Congratulations mate.” Another fan commented: “Congratulations Jota, wishing you and your wife a happy marriage to last forever.”
A third fan added: “Congratulations! Happily ever after!” Rute unveiled more snapshots from their nuptials in a recent post, expressing her joy with the words: “My dream come true.” Jota affectionately responded to the post commenting: “I’m the lucky one.”
Jota reportedly passed away alongside his younger brother Andre, 26, in the shock accident. The accident was confirmed by emergency services in the Castilla and Leon region.
According to the Daily Mail, a police spokesperson said: “The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire.”
The statement continued: “1-1-2 notified the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU) of this accident. From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center were sent, who confirmed the death of two people on the scene.”
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