Tributes from across the football world have continued to pour in following the tragic loss of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who both died in a car accident on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Spain’s Zamora Province.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, in a heartfelt tribute, expressed profound sadness over the devastating news and confirmed that a minute of silence will be observed during the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals in honor of the two brothers.
“Today is a very sad day for football. We are all deeply saddened by the loss of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre,” Infantino said. “I had the opportunity to meet Diogo at the World Cup in Qatar a couple of years ago. Fantastic person, a great son, husband, and father as well. It’s a tragic loss.”
The fatal crash has sent shockwaves through the global football community, with tributes pouring in from clubs, former teammates, fans, and national associations. Diogo Jota, 28, enjoyed a distinguished career playing for clubs such as Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Liverpool, while his younger brother Andre was rising through the ranks in Portuguese football.
Infantino on honouring Jota
“Of course, in the upcoming quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup, we will pay tribute with a minute of silence,” Infantino added. “There are no words in these moments. From FIFA’s side, from my side, and from the whole global football family, we send a big hug to the family of Diogo and Andre and express our deepest condolences. We wish them strength in this incredibly sad moment.”
The accident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday when the vehicle carrying the brothers veered off a rural highway and crashed. Spanish authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Jota played 49 matches for the Portugal national team, with whom he won two UEFA Nations League titles.
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