The funerals of Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother André Silva will take place this weekend, following their tragic deaths in a car crash on Thursday, July 3, in northwestern Spain.
According to local authorities, the brothers were travelling in a bright green Lamborghini when it veered off the road while overtaking another car in the city of Zamora.
The vehicle reportedly crashed and burst into flames, killing both on the spot. The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed no other passengers were involved and has not yet determined who was driving at the time of the accident.
The bodies were taken to Puebla de Sanabria in Spain and are set to be transported back to Portugal for burial. The wake will be held on Saturday at the São Cosme Chapel, just 30 minutes from Porto, where Jota married his wife Rute Cardoso two weeks ago. A funeral mass will follow at 10 am at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.
“We’re available to celebrate with everyone and to share the pain and the Christian hope,” said local priest Jose Manuel Macedo, speaking to CNN Portugal.
Tributes have continued to pour in for the pair, with Liverpool managers past and present—Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot—penning emotional messages, while Cristiano Ronaldo also expressed his devastation. “They will be missed,” Ronaldo said, recalling his last moments with Jota during their UEFA Nations League victory.
Jota, 27, was expected to return to Liverpool later this month for pre-season training. Reports indicate he had recently undergone lung surgery and was advised not to fly, prompting his decision to travel by road and ferry. His brother André, 24, was also a professional footballer, playing for Portuguese second-division side Penafiel, as well as stints with Famalicão, Boavista, and Paços de Ferreira.
Penafiel Football Club expressed its heartbreak over the tragedy. “The loss of two lives so young and connected to the world of football fills us with sorrow and dismay,” the club wrote. “We send our most sincere condolences to their family, friends, and all who shared moments of life and passion for the sport with them.”
