Diogo Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal forward, was likely at the wheel and driving above the speed limit when his Lamborghini Huracán crashed along a Spanish motorway last week, killing him and his younger brother, according to preliminary findings from Spain’s Civil Guard released Tuesday.
The 28-year-old footballer and his brother, André Silva, 25, died instantly when the vehicle veered off the A-52 motorway near the town of Puebla de Sanabria in the early hours of July 3. Investigators believe excessive speed and a possible tire malfunction led to the fatal crash, which left the car overturned and engulfed in flames.
A senior official close to the investigation, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case, said early technical analysis of the wreckage suggests the Lamborghini was traveling significantly over the legal speed limit when the driver lost control.
Surveillance footage from nearby service stations and witness accounts indicate that the brothers had been returning from a family gathering in northern Portugal shortly before the accident. While toxicology reports are still pending, authorities have not publicly raised suspicions of alcohol or drug impairment.
Analysis of the vehicle’s onboard data recorder, along with crash-site forensics — including airbag deployment patterns and seat positioning — led investigators to conclude that Jota, and not his brother, was driving at the time of the collision. No other vehicles were involved.
The sudden deaths of the two brothers have stunned Portugal and the international football community. Jota, who joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, had established himself as a vital player for both club and country. He represented Portugal in last month’s Euro 2024 and was expected to rejoin Liverpool for pre-season training this month.
Liverpool Football Club and the Portuguese Football Federation have led tributes, joined by an outpouring of grief from teammates, rivals, and fans. Over the weekend, thousands gathered in Gondomar, the brothers’ hometown in northern Portugal, for a joint funeral. Among the mourners were Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot, both of whom praised Jota’s character and his contributions to the game.
Spanish authorities said their investigation remains ongoing, with a final report expected to be submitted to the local court in the coming days. Officials are also examining whether road design, weather conditions, or vehicle maintenance may have played a role in the crash.
For now, the tragedy has renewed debates in Portugal and Spain over the dangers of high-performance vehicles and speeding on public roads.
In Gondomar, supporters left flowers, team scarves, and handwritten notes outside the modest football pitch where Jota first trained as a boy — a quiet, solemn tribute to a career and a life cut tragically short.
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