Cristiano Ronaldo brings tear to the eye with emotional Diogo Jota message
Cristiano Ronaldo shared a tear-jerking tribute to Liverpool player Diogo Jota after the 28-year-old was tragically killed in a car accident. The forward was travelling in a vehicle when it went off the road, causing a fire which spread to nearby vegetation. Jota's younger brother Andre, 26, was also killed in the crash.
The incident took place on the A-52 in the Spanish province of Zamora, near the town of Palacios de Sanabria. It comes just two weeks after Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in Portugal. Tributes have been flooding in since Liverpool confirmed the news of Jota's death, with Ronaldo penning an emotional tribute to his international team-mate.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: "It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you had gotten married.
"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."
Meanwhile, the Portuguese Football Federation said they were 'utterly devastated' and described the deaths of Jota and his brother as 'irreplaceable losses'.
In a statement, they said: "The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are utterly devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva this morning in Spain.
"Far beyond being an exceptional player, with nearly 50 caps for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his team-mates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a role model in his community.
"The Portuguese Football Federation expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and Andre Silva, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where the players respectively played.
"The Portuguese Football Federation has already requested UEFA to observe a minute's silence this Thursday before our national team's match against Spain in the Women's European Championship.
"We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and Andre Silva represents irreplaceable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to honour their legacy daily."
Jota made 49 appearances for Portugal at senior international level, scoring 14 goals. He was part of the side that won the Nations League earlier this year.
The versatile forward scored 65 goals for Liverpool and provided 28 assists during his five-year spell at Anfield. Last season, he found the net on six occasions with his contribution helping the Reds to secure the Premier League title.
Confirming the news of Jota's death, Liverpool said: "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.
"Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. We will continue to provide them with our full support."