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Spanish authorities have indicated that excessive speed may have played a role in the tragic car crash that claimed the lives of Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in north-west Spain last week.
The Civil Guard, Spain’s national police force, revealed on Tuesday that their ongoing investigation suggests the Lamborghini the pair were travelling in was exceeding the 120km/h (75mph) speed limit when a suspected tyre blowout caused the vehicle to veer off the A52 highway and catch fire.
“The expert report is being carried out and finished, where among other things they are studying the marks left by one of the wheels of the vehicle. Everything also points to a possible high excess of speed over the permitted speed of the road. All the tests carried out for the moment point to the fact that the driver of the vehicle was Diogo Jota,” a Civil Guard spokesperson said.
Until now, authorities had not publicly identified who was behind the wheel at the time of the crash. On Tuesday, they confirmed that Jota appeared to have been driving.
The accident occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning on a quiet stretch of road in the province of Zamora. Jota and Silva, aged 28 and 25 respectively, died when the luxury vehicle burst into flames after leaving the carriageway. The car’s crumpled remains were cleared later that day, though debris remained scattered along the roadside.
Investigators believe the brothers were en route to Santander to catch a ferry to the UK. Jota was reportedly advised to avoid flying after undergoing a recent lung procedure, and was due to rejoin Liverpool’s preseason training upon his return.
Once completed, the police report will be submitted to a court in Puebla de Sanabria before being made public.
The devastating news has reverberated across the football world. Jota’s death, which came less than two weeks after his marriage to longtime partner Rute Cardoso, prompted a flood of tributes from teammates, fans, and political leaders alike.
Jota had established himself as a key figure at Liverpool, scoring 47 goals in 123 appearances over five seasons. Internationally, he earned 49 caps for Portugal. His hometown of Gondomar, near Porto, mourned deeply—particularly his first club, where he began playing at the age of nine.
Silva, who had been playing for Portuguese side Penafiel, was also remembered fondly at a funeral held on Saturday in Gondomar, attended by family, friends, and fellow professionals.
Back in England, Anfield became a focal point for grieving supporters. Hundreds gathered outside the stadium, laying flowers and memorabilia in remembrance. More tributes appeared outside the AXA Training Centre, where Liverpool players, including Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, returned for preseason testing on Tuesday. Both posted heartfelt messages about their late teammate.
Liverpool delayed the start of their preseason out of respect for Jota’s passing. The full squad is expected to reconvene by Thursday. The Premier League champions are scheduled to play Preston North End in their first friendly on July 13, though it remains uncertain whether the match will proceed.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @liverpoolfc
