- Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota has died at the age of 28 in a tragic road crash
- Portugal captain Ronaldo offered a tribute to his team-mate on social media
- LIVE: Follow the latest all news and updates after Diogo Jota’s death aged 28
Cristiano Ronaldo has shared a heartbreaking tribute to Diogo Jota after his Portugal team-mate died in a car crash on Thursday.
Jota died at the age of 28 after his Lamborghini careered off a road in northern Spain – just two weeks after he married his childhood sweetheart.
The Portuguese forward was travelling in the supercar with his younger brother Andre, 26, a fellow professional footballer who also died in the crash.
The Lamborghini’s tyre is believed to have blown out while overtaking on the A-52 at Cernadilla near Zamora in northwestern Spain, close to the border with Portugal, in the early hours of this morning.
The supercar came off the road, rolled and then burst into flames at around 12.35am, also igniting the surrounding vegetation. The emergency services were called but the brothers could not be saved.
Portugal captain Ronaldo offered his tribute to Jota and his brother Andre in a post on social media.
Cristiano Ronaldo has shared a heartbreaking tribute following Diogo Jota’s death aged 28
Jota tragically passed away just weeks after winning the Nations League with Portugal
The tragic news coming just weeks after Ronaldo and Jota had helped Portugal win the Nations League.
‘It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married,’ Ronaldo said.
‘To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them.
‘Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.’
Jota was capped 49 times by Portugal’s national team and scored 14 goals at international level.
The forward came off the bench in extra time in the Nations League final between Portugal and Spain last month.
Portugal triumphed in the final after a penalty shoot-out, following a 2-2 draw.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said the moment of presenting the trophy to Portugal will now carry ‘sorrow’ following the news of Jota’s death.
‘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 burned in memory with sorrow,’ Ceferin said.
‘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.’
