Cristiano Ronaldo is devastated by the death of Diogo Jota. The forty-year-old Portuguese forward can hardly believe that his fellow international is no more.
The 28-year-old Jota, who had been playing for Liverpool since 2020, died in a car accident in the Spanish province of Zamora on Thursday morning. His younger brother, André Silva, also died in the accident.
Ronaldo had been playing with Jota for the Portuguese national team since 2019. “It’s unreal,” the forward writes on Instagram. “We were together recently with the national team and you were just married. I want to offer my condolences to your family, wife, and children and wish them all the strength in the world. You will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.”
Rúben Neves, who played with Jota at FC Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Portugal, is also in shock. “They say that we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you!” the Al Hilal midfielder writes on Instagram.
Pepe, a former teammate of Jota’s in Portugal, is deeply saddened by the passing of the two. “A premature, painful loss that leaves us all poorer – as colleagues, friends and football lovers,” the former defender writes on Instagram. “In this time of deep sorrow, I offer my sincere condolences to the family, friends and everyone who loved them.”
Jota made his debut for Portugal in 2019. In total, the forward played 49 matches for the national team. He won the Nations League twice with Portugal (2019 and 2025).