Photo File: Liverpool’s Portuguese striker #20 Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring a goal during the English League Cup third round football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England on September 25, 2024. (Credit: Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother died in a car crash in northwestern Spain on Thursday, police said, weeks after the star got married.

The Civil Guard said a vehicle veered off a motorway and burst into flames shortly after midnight in the municipality of Cernadilla in the province of Zamora, confirming the deaths of Jota, 28, and his brother Andre.

“Everything points to the blowout of a tire while it (the vehicle) was overtaking,” the Civil Guard said in a statement.

Portuguese football federation president Pedro Proenca wrote on social media that he was “devastated”, calling Jota “an extraordinary person, respected by all his colleagues and opponents, someone blessed with an infectious joy and a reference for his own community”.

Proenca said they had asked UEFA for a minute’s silence before Portugal’s Women’s Euro 2025 match against Spain in Switzerland on Thursday.

Photo File: Liverpool’s Portuguese striker #20 Diogo Jota (2L) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England on April 2, 2025. (Credit: Paul ELLIS / AFP)

“We have lost two champions. The death of Diogo and Andre Silva are irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything possible to honour their legacy every day,” Proenca added.

Jota had married his partner Rute Cardoso on June 22, posting a video of their wedding on Instagram just hours before the accident.

They had three children.

The former Atletico Madrid, Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers star scored nine goals in all competitions last season as Liverpool cruised to their 20th Premier League title.

Jota also won the EPL championship alongside Liverpool and was recently celebrated alongside Portugal as the first team to win the UEFA Nations League twice following their 5-3 win against Spain, on penalties, after a 2-2 draw in Munich, to triumph in the 2024/25 final.

Photo File: Andre Silva playing for Portuguese side, Penafiel. (Credit: Getty Images)

Andre Silva was the younger brother of Liverpool superstar Diogo Jota.

Silva, 26, is also a talented footballer who played for Penafiel – a side in the Portuguese second division.

The Portuguese player joined Penafiel on July 1, 2023, and he mainly operated as an attacking midfielder.

But Silva’s ability and flair on the ball has seen him often navigate in either the left wing or centre forward positions.

Both Jota and Silva represented Porto at a young age.

It is not known if Andre Silva had a partner or children.