Rute Cardoso breaks her silence on the crash that claimed her husband Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva were killed in a tragic early-morning car crash on July 3, 2025, near Cernadilla on Spain’s A‑52 motorway. Their Lamborghini reportedly suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking, veered off the road, and caught fire instantly, killing both brothers at the scene.

This heartbreaking accident occurred just hours after Diogo’s wife, Rute Cardoso, posted an emotional video from their wedding day. The couple had married on June 22, 2025, in Porto, surrounded by their three young children, the youngest born in November 2024. In the video, the pair could be seen laughing, dancing, and embracing their kids, accompanied by caption “A day we will never forget” moments that became tragically poignant mere hours later.

Rute Cardoso, Diogo’s childhood sweetheart  they met in school around age 13 in Porto was by his side throughout his career, maintaining a quiet yet constant presence on the sidelines. Their relationship, dating back to 2013, blossomed into a family with three children: sons Dinis (b. 2021) and Duarte (b. 2023), and a daughter born in November 2024.

On the fateful night, following routine travel from Spain back toward Portugal, the accident occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. CEST following a tyre blowout . Emergency teams from Castilla y León responded swiftly, but found the vehicle engulfed, with both occupants deceased.

Tributes and Reaction

The footballing community has been left reeling. Liverpool FC released a statement, mourning the loss of not just a key player but a “professional, with humanity and commitment”. The Portuguese Football Federation declared three days of mourning, appealing for a minute of silence before Portugal’s UEFA Women’s Euro matches.

Tributes poured in from Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Piers Morgan, Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, and rival clubs including FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon describing Jota as a “beloved and talented player known for his humility” . In their announcement, the FPF said: “We have lost two champions… deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football”.

A Love Story Cut Too Short

Rute’s Instagram tribute is a haunting reminder of what they celebrated hours earlier  a “day we will never forget,” echoing through tragic irony . This post now stands as the final testament to their love and family’s joy, immediately fuelling an outpouring of grief and support from fans globally .

At just 28, Jota had enjoyed a stellar career: from Paços de Ferreira, Atlético Madrid, Porto loan, Wolves, to Liverpool in 2020 for £41m. He scored 65 Premier League goals in 182 appearances, won the 2024‑25 Premier League, 2022 FA Cup, and EFL Cup, plus earned nearly 50 caps for Portugal alongside two Nations League titles .

As the world mourns, attention turns to Rute and their children. Though the location for funeral services remains undecided, Porto is expected to host the memorial. Support is being marshalled around Rute’s family as they navigate life without her beloved husband and brother-in-laws.

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Rute Cardoso, Diogo Jota’s childhood sweetheart and wife, shared a deeply moving wedding video hours before the fatal crash. The June 22 ceremony in Porto featured joyous moments with their three children. Her caption, “A day we will never forget,” now carries haunting depth. The couple had been together since their school days, and their sudden happiness was captured immediately before tragedy struck. Their Lamborghini’s tyre burst around 12:30 a.m. on July 3 near Zamora, Spain, causing a crash and blaze that claimed both brothers. Rute is now left a widow, mourning her partner and father of their children.