The Spanish Guardia Civil believe the car was exceeding the 120 km/h speed limit when a tire blew out, though the investigation is ongoing. Investigators reached this preliminary conclusion after analyzing tire marks. They also believe Jota was likely driving at the time of the accident.

The final report will be submitted to the court in Puebla de Sanabria, Zamora, once the investigation concludes.

The scene of the car accident that killed Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother in Zamora, northwestern Spain, 3/7/2025. Photo: *AP*

The accident occurred on the morning of 3/7 on the A52 highway, approximately 110 km west of Valladolid, Spain. Jota and his brother Silva, a player for the Portuguese second-division team Penafiel, were traveling in a Lamborghini Huracan. While attempting to overtake another vehicle, Jota's car reportedly suffered a tire blowout, causing him to lose control. The car rolled several times before catching fire, killing both occupants.

According to CNN Portugal, Jota had recently undergone lung surgery. Doctors advised against air travel due to potential complications from pressure changes. As a result, the Liverpool forward was traveling by road and sea. The sports car was also reportedly scheduled to be shipped to England.

Graphics depicting Jota's accident. Image: *Sportmail*

The tragedy occurred just 11 days after Jota's wedding to his longtime partner, Rute Cardoso. The couple first met in 2012 at the age of 13 while attending the same high school in Porto. They had been together ever since and have three children. They became engaged in July 2022 and were married on 22/6 in Porto, sharing photos of the wedding and their family on social media.

Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020. He made 182 appearances for the club, scoring 65 goals and providing 26 assists. He helped Liverpool win the Premier League title last season, along with the FA Cup and two League Cups. For the Portuguese national team, Jota made his debut in March 2019, earning 49 caps and scoring 14 goals. He was part of the squad that won the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

Diogo Jota's wife, Rute Cardoso (center, right), is helped by her sister behind her husband's coffin during the funeral. Photo: *AFP*

The funeral for Jota and Silva was held at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar Catholic church on the morning of 5/7, in the same town where the Liverpool forward was married the previous month. Both brothers were buried in the local cemetery following the service.

Numerous teammates from the Portuguese national team and Jota's former clubs, including Liverpool, Porto, and Wolves, attended the funeral. Coaches, football executives, politicians, fans, and members of the public also paid their respects. At Anfield, Liverpool set up a memorial area for fans and players who could not travel to Portugal to lay flowers and light candles in Jota's memory.

Liverpool postponed the start of their pre-season training following the tragedy. The team is now expected to resume training on 10/7. The Premier League champions are scheduled to play their first friendly match against Preston on 13/7, though it remains unclear whether the match will proceed as planned.

Hong Duy compiled