Liverpool forward Diogo Jota tragically lost his life in a car accident in Spain when the Lamborghini he was travelling in veered off the road and burst into flames following a tyre blowout. The football community and beyond have been paying tribute to the 28-year-old father of three, who had just married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso 11 days prior.

Jota and his brother Andre Silva, 26, were found deceased at the scene of the crash on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near Zamora at 12:40am on Thursday. Their supercar ended up as a fiery wreck on the side of the road. A government source in Zamora confirmed that "a possible speeding incident" is under investigation. Liverpool FC expressed their devastation at the news, describing it as an "unimaginable loss". The Portuguese Football Federation also expressed their heartbreak, stating: "Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football." Police confirmed no other vehicles were involved in the incident. As the football world grieves the loss of the beloved striker, here's what we know about the tragic accident that claimed his and his brother's lives.

The Civil Guard in Zamora was the first to publicly confirm the deaths of Jota and Silva, with medical personnel having declared them dead shortly after arriving at the scene. A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Zamora disclosed: "The investigation into the crash is being carried out by Civil Guard traffic officers.

"We believe the car suffered a blowout from the marks on the road. The full police report once it is completed will be submitted to a duty court in Zamora which has launched an ongoing judicial investigation into this crash. That report is going to take time to complete, probably about four or five days but possibly longer.

"At this moment in time it is impossible to say at exactly what speed the car was going but that is something the Civil Guard investigators will be able to detail at least approximately in their final report from things like the skid marks. What I can confirm is that no other vehicle was involved and no-one else was hurt."

Following confirmation of the fatalities, the initial images from the scene were released, revealing the devastating remains of the Lamborghini at the roadside. The photograph displayed several medical staff members standing near the charred remnants of the vehicle.

Emergency services in Castilla and Leon issued a statement confirming the accident, stating: "The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident, and the vehicle was on fire.

"1-1-2 notified the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU) of this accident. From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center were sent, who confirmed the death of two people on the scene."

The tragic passing of Jota and Silva has cast a spotlight on the A-52, where the incident took place, sparking outrage on social media over the road's condition. Despite no official word on whether the road's state contributed to the accident, the public has not held back in lambasting what they describe as its "deplorable" condition.

One irate user commented: "This is the highway/goat track where Diogo Jota and his brother died. I don't know if they had a puncture, or if an animal got in their way.... What I do know is that the A52 is in a deplorable state." Another chimed in: "You're absolutely right, when I come from France and I go to Vigo, I go through there and I'm always afraid of that road with all the potholes it has, it can break the suspension."

A third shared their experience: "I drove around it once in 2023, and I found it to be in a terrible state. I can't conceive that it is still not being resurfaced." Meanwhile, a fourth lamented: "The puncture is easy, the road is full of potholes, it's a real danger."

After the Lamborghini veered off the road, it burst into flames and ignited nearby vegetation before firefighters extinguished the blaze. The identities of Jota and Silva were confirmed through documents found at the crash site and inside the charred vehicle. It's believed that a number plate was the crucial piece of evidence enabling authorities to confirm the tragic deaths of the two brothers. Forensic experts conducting the post-mortem examinations have had to resort to DNA testing.

As for the reason behind the car journey, it emerged that Jota was travelling to the port city of Santander to catch a ferry back to the UK, with Liverpool's pre-season due to start next week. After undergoing lung surgery, the Portugal international was advised against flying, so he and his younger brother chose to drive.

They planned to stop overnight in Benavente before catching the ferry to Portsmouth and returning to Merseyside for what would have been Jota's sixth season at Anfield.