Tributes from across the sporting world have been paid to Liverpool ahead Diogo Jota after the Portugal worldwide and his brother, André Silva, died in a automobile crash in Spain on Thursday morning.
The participant’s demise on the age of 28 was confirmed by Liverpool Soccer Membership, the Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the Portuguese Soccer Federation (FPF), with the Spain Civil Guard informing The Related Press of the incident.
Jota’s demise comes simply weeks after he married his long-term accomplice, Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three youngsters. He lifted the Premier League title together with his teammates on Might 25 and received 4 main honors throughout his time on the membership.
In a press release, the membership mentioned they have been “devastated” by Jota’s passing and requested “the privateness of Diogo and André’s household, buddies, teammates and membership employees is revered as they attempt to come to phrases with an unimaginable loss.”
“For us as a membership, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not simply our participant. He was a beloved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of these roles he was very particular,” Liverpool boss Arne Slot mentioned in a press release.
“I might say a lot about what he delivered to our crew however the reality is everybody who watched Diogo play might see it. Exhausting work, want, dedication, nice high quality, targets. The essence of what a Liverpool participant ought to be.”
The membership’s senior management group of Billy Hogan, John Henry, Tom Werner and Mike Gordon mentioned in a joint assertion: “This tragic scenario and the fact of it’s actually stunning, devastating and has left us numb with grief. We due to this fact can’t think about how the rapid and wider household of those exceptional brothers should be feeling. Our ideas, prayers and assist are with all of them.”
Liverpool Metropolis Council has introduced the flag at Liverpool city corridor has been lowered to half-staff following the demise of Jota and his brother.
Jota’s Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo despatched his condolences to the brothers’ household.
“It would not make sense. We have been simply along with the nationwide crew, you had simply gotten married,” Ronaldo mentioned in a submit on social media.
“To your loved ones, your spouse, and your youngsters, I ship my condolences and need all of them the energy on the planet. I do know you’ll at all times be with them. Relaxation in peace, Diogo and André. We are going to all miss you.”
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson recalled being a visitor at Jota’s current marriage ceremony.
“The final time I noticed him was the happiest day of his life — his marriage ceremony day,” he wrote on Instagram. “I wish to bear in mind his never-ceasing smile from that magical day. How a lot he was bursting with love for his spouse and household.
“I can not imagine we’re saying goodbye. It is too quickly, and it hurts a lot.”
Jota’s long-time captain at Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk, wrote that he was “completely devastated and in whole disbelief. What a human being, what a participant, however most significantly what an unbelievable household man.
“You meant a lot to all of us and also you at all times will! For your loved ones to lose two sons, a husband and a father is simply unimaginable. So merciless and unfair. My coronary heart is breaking for all your stunning household, for Rute and to your youngsters.
“I promise you that in these tough instances and past we’ll at all times be there for your loved ones.
One other teammate at Anfield, Darwin Núñez, mentioned “there aren’t any phrases of comfort for a lot ache. I’ll at all times bear in mind you together with your smile, as a very good companion on and off the sphere.”
Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes and the Michael Edwards, the CEO of soccer for Liverpool house owners Fenway Sports activities Group, mentioned in a press release that “Within the coming days, we as a membership will look to honour our beloved quantity 20 with the respect and affection he so richly deserves.”
Former Liverpool supervisor Jürgen Klopp, who coached Jota at Liverpool, posted a tribute on Instagram, saying: “This can be a second the place I wrestle! There should be a much bigger goal! However I can not see it!
“I am heartbroken to listen to in regards to the passing of Diogo and his brother André. Diogo was not solely a implausible participant, but in addition an amazing pal, a loving and caring husband and father! We are going to miss you a lot!
“All my prayers, ideas and energy to Rute, the youngsters, the household, the buddies and everybody who beloved them! Relaxation in peace — Love J.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left Liverpool for Actual Madrid this summer season, referred to as Jota a “nice teammate and a real pal.”
“It is so tough to search out the precise phrases when your head and coronary heart are struggling to simply accept that somebody you care about a lot has gone,” Alexander-Arnold added. “When it is much less painful, I wish to bear in mind Diogo with a giant smile. So many laughs and completely happy moments.”
Lionel Messi posted a black and white {photograph} of Jota with the abbreviation of RIP in Spanish (QEPD) on Instagram.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher mentioned in a submit on X: “Devastating information about Diogo Jota & his brother Andre this morning. Ideas are with everybody of their household & buddies, particularly his spouse Rute & their three pretty youngsters.”
Premier League golf equipment expressed their commiserations, together with Liverpool’s bitter rivals Manchester United.
“Our deepest condolences are with the family members of Diogo Jota and his brother, André, and everybody related with Liverpool FC following at present’s heartbreaking information,” the membership mentioned in a submit on social media.
Jota’s former membership Wolverhampton Wanderers mentioned they have been “heartbroken.” Jota spent three years on the membership earlier than becoming a member of Liverpool.
“Diogo was adored by our followers, beloved by his teammates and cherished by everybody who labored with him throughout his time at Wolves. The reminiscences he created won’t ever be forgotten,” Wolves added.
“Our hearts exit to the household, buddies and family members of Diogo and his brother, André. You may be actually missed, and at all times remembered.”
The English Soccer Affiliation mentioned it was devastated to study of Jota’s passing, and the Premier League mentioned that “soccer has misplaced a champion who might be perpetually missed.”
UEFA has introduced {that a} second of silence might be noticed in any respect of Thursday and Friday’s ladies’s Euro 2025 matches in reminiscence of Jota and his brother.
“We’ll be watching the video games tonight and Portugal play their first sport towards Spain, and I do know there might be a minute’s silence held earlier than that sport,” England’s Lucy Bronze mentioned.
“I believe everybody in an England shirt and everybody within the event might be supporting the Portuguese crew as a result of they are going to be so much nearer to this than we’re. It’s only a actually unhappy second for everybody concerned in soccer, understanding what an amazing man he’s and what a tremendous 12 months he is had — not simply in soccer, however he obtained married a couple of weeks in the past and he is obtained some little youngsters. It is simply so unhappy.”
Tributes have been additionally paid to Jota from exterior the world of soccer, with Rafael Nadal expressing his sorrow on the “terribly unhappy and painful information” in a submit on X.
Basketball legend LeBron James, whose stake in Fenway Sports activities Group makes him an element proprietor of Liverpool, mentioned: “My prayers goes out to his family members throughout this time! Might you all be guided and guarded! YNWA JOTA!!”
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes posted {a photograph} the place he’s seen hugging Jota throughout a Portugal sport and wrote: “Good friend, colleague, and companion in a thousand battles. It is arduous to grasp how somebody can go away so early. Might you and your brother discover the peace you’ll want to take care of those that misplaced you so immediately and so quickly. My condolences to your entire household.”
ESPN’s Tom Hamilton contributed to this report.