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 car crash in Spain on Thursday morning.
The participant’s dying 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 dying comes simply weeks after he married his long-term associate, Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three kids. 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 statement, the membership mentioned they have been “devastated” by Jota’s passing and requested “the privateness of Diogo and André’s household, pals, 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 liked 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 said in a statement.
“I may say a lot about what he delivered to our staff however the fact is everybody who watched Diogo play may see it. Laborious work, want, dedication, nice high quality, targets. The essence of what a Liverpool participant needs 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 state of affairs and the fact of it’s actually surprising, devastating and has left us numb with grief. We subsequently can’t think about how the quick and wider household of those outstanding brothers have to be feeling. Our ideas, prayers and help are with all of them.”
Liverpool Metropolis Council has introduced the flag at Liverpool city corridor has been lowered to half-staff following the dying 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 staff, you had simply gotten married,” Ronaldo mentioned in a put up on social media.
“To your loved ones, your spouse, and your kids, I ship my condolences and need all of them the energy on this planet. I do know you’ll at all times be with them. Relaxation in peace, Diogo and André. We’ll all miss you.”
Stated Jota’s Liverpool teammate Darwin Núñez: “There aren’t any phrases of comfort for a lot ache. I’ll at all times keep in mind you together with your smile, as a superb companion on and off the sector.
“I ship all my energy to his household, from wherever he’s I’m certain he’ll at all times be with you, particularly to his spouse and his three kids.”
Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes and the Michael Edwards, the CEO of soccer for Liverpool homeowners Fenway Sports activities Group, mentioned in a statement 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 have to 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 a terrific good friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We’ll miss you a lot!
“All my prayers, ideas and energy to Rute, the children, the household, the chums and everybody who liked them! Relaxation in peace — Love J.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold, who left Liverpool for Actual Madrid this summer season, known as Jota a “nice teammate and a real good friend.”
“It is so tough to seek out the appropriate phrases when your head and coronary heart are struggling to just accept that somebody you care about a lot has gone,” Alexander-Arnold added. “When it is much less painful, I wish to keep in mind Diogo with a giant smile. So many laughs and glad 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 post on X: “Devastating information about Diogo Jota & his brother Andre this morning. Ideas are with everybody of their household & pals, particularly his spouse Rute & their three beautiful 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 right this moment’s heartbreaking information,” the membership mentioned in a post on social media.
Jota’s former membership Wolverhampton Wanderers said they have been “heartbroken.” Jota spent three years on the membership earlier than becoming a member of Liverpool.
“Diogo was adored by our followers, liked by his teammates and cherished by everybody who labored with him throughout his time at Wolves. The recollections he created won’t ever be forgotten,” Wolves added.
“Our hearts exit to the household, pals and family members of Diogo and his brother, André. You may be actually missed, and at all times remembered.”
The English Soccer Affiliation said it was devastated to study of Jota’s passing, and the Premier League said that “soccer has misplaced a champion who shall be endlessly missed.”
UEFA has introduced {that a} second of silence shall 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 in opposition to Spain, and I do know there shall 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 match shall be supporting the Portuguese staff as a result of they are going to be loads nearer to this than we’re. It’s only a actually unhappy second for everybody concerned in soccer, figuring out what a terrific man he’s and what an incredible 12 months he is had — not simply in soccer, however he obtained married a number 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 post on X.
Basketball legend LeBron James, whose stake in Fenway Sports activities Group makes him a component proprietor of Liverpool, said: “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 onerous to grasp how somebody can go away so early. Might you and your brother discover the peace that you must take care of those that misplaced you so all of a sudden and so quickly. My condolences to your entire household.”
ESPN’s Tom Hamilton contributed to this report.