Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota was likely driving and speeding when his Lamborghini crashed and burst into flames on a Spanish motorway, killing both him and his younger brother, according to Spanish police.
Jota, 28, a forward for Liverpool FC, and his brother André Silva, 25, died early Thursday last week in Zamora province, northwest Spain. The two were en route to the Spanish port city of Santander, where Jota was expected to fly back to England for Liverpool’s pre-season training.
Spain’s Guardia Civil said the Lamborghini appeared to be overtaking another vehicle when it left the A52 motorway near Palacios de Sanabria. The vehicle is believed to have suffered a tyre blowout before veering off the road and catching fire.
“Everything also points to a possible excessive speed beyond the speed limit of the road,” said a traffic police spokesperson in Zamora. The posted limit in the area was 120 km/h (75 mph).
Initial investigations found tyre marks stretching approximately 100 meters from the moment of impact, indicating the car may have been travelling well over the speed limit. Authorities confirmed they had ruled out road surface defects or any known accident “black spot” status at the crash location.
“Tests carried out so far indicate that the driver of the crashed vehicle was Diogo Jota,” said police, adding that further analysis is ongoing, particularly given the extent of the fire damage, which severely compromised evidence.
The crash occurred just 11 days after Jota married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso, in Portugal. The couple shared three children.
The joint funeral for Jota and his brother was held over the weekend in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, drawing an outpouring of grief from teammates, coaches, family, and fans.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the football world. Liverpool FC released a heartfelt statement mourning the loss of a beloved player and colleague, while the Portuguese national team held a minute’s silence in Jota’s memory during a training session.
A full expert report is being prepared for the courts, and police say their findings may inform potential road safety campaigns or further inquiries.
