In memory of Diogo Jota and André Silva

Diogo Jota, who was 28, was capped 49 times by Portugal's senior team, for whom he scored 14 goals. He was part of the team that won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025, and was also capped at Under-19 and U21 level. He won the Premier League title with Liverpool last season.

His brother André, 25, was also a forward at Portuguese second division club Penafiel, who he joined from Paços de Ferreira in 2023 having been part of FC Porto's youth teams.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said: "Just three weeks ago, I had the honour of presenting Diogo Jota with a medal after the UEFA Nations League final – a moment of joy, pride, and celebration that will now forever be etched in the memory with sorrow."

"His passion, energy and spirit on the field inspired everyone around him. It is devastating to think that a life so full of joy and potential has been taken far too soon. Rest in peace, dear Diogo. You will not be forgotten."

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, president of Portugal, added: "The president of the Portuguese Republic deeply regrets the tragic and premature death of footballer Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva.

"Diogo Jota represented Portuguese football at the highest level and demonstrated a high level of professionalism and dedication as part of a generation that has taken Portuguese football to the highest level.

"The president sends his deepest condolences to his family, friends and professional colleagues for a loss that has dismayed all Portuguese."

Nurtured by his hometown club Gondomar SC, on the outskirts of Porto, Diogo Jota attracted the attention of Paços de Ferreira, where he moved in 2014. Two good seasons at Paços led to a move to Atlético de Madrid two years later, before a loan to Porto for the 2016/17 season, during which he established himself as a fast, intelligent forward with the ability to play in any position up front, mostly as a winger.

Atleti then loaned Jota to English club Wolverhampton Wanderers. At Wolves, he made 131 appearances in three seasons and scored 44 goals. He moved to Liverpool in 2020 and won each of English football's major trophies: the League Cup (2021/22, 2023/24), the FA Cup (2021/22) and, just a few months ago, the Premier League. In five seasons with the Merseyside club, Jota scored 65 goals in 182 games.

In a statement published on the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) website, president Pedro Proença said: "The Portuguese Football Federation and the whole of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva this morning in Spain.

"Much more than a fantastic player, with almost 50 caps for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his team-mates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference point in his own community.

"On behalf of myself and the Portuguese Football Federation, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Jota, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs the players played for respectively. The disappearance of Diogo and André Jota represents an irreparable loss for Portuguese football."

In a short statement, Liverpool said: "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota."

The prime minister of Portugal Luís Montenegro added: "The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured the name of Portugal, and of his brother is unexpected and tragic. I send the family my deepest condolences. It's a sad day for football and for national and international sport."