Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident in Spain in July 2025
Eight months have passed since the shocking death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. Jota, 28, and Andre, 25, were killed in the early hours of July 3, 2025 after their car veered off the road as they were making their way from Spain back to Liverpool.
The Portuguese international is survived by his wife, Rute Cardoso, with whom he had married 11 days prior to the crash, and their three children. The tragedy rocked the football community and beyond, with tributes pouring in from around the world.
Liverpool’s own tribute to their No. 20 was to retire his shirt while hosting a sea of flowers that were laid by fans outside Anfield. Last September, head coach Arne Slot also confirmed Fenway Sports Group would pay the rest of the forward’s contract in full to Rute and their children.
FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page
It’s estimated that the Reds will pay out around £14.4 million. The forward had agreed a contract extension with Liverpool in 2022 for £140,000 per week, with two years left on the deal at the time of his death.
The stunning gesture only confirms how highly regarded Jota was by Liverpool. The 28-year-old’s performances after signing from Wolves in 2020 helped Liverpool win the FA Cup, League Cup and the Premier League.
READ MORE: Steven Gerrard becomes the second Liverpool legend to demand Arne Slot make changeREAD MORE: ‘I was approached by Liverpool coach in McDonald’s – I turned Everton down in a heartbeat’
Speaking in September, Slot said: “The way the fans conducted themselves after that tragedy, how many flowers there were, all the memorials, I can almost get emotional thinking about it. It’s unbelievable what our fans have done and our players as well, the way they have conducted themselves in and around the funeral.
“And then we have to train again. There are moments where I feel: ‘What must his wife and his children feel now?’ It sounds so hard but our life continues.
“People expect from me that I prepare them for ever and that sometimes feels a bit difficult knowing how hard it is for the family and for the parents in the phase they are still going through and will go through for the rest of their lives.
“Owners are mainly criticised, like managers, but the way they’ve handled this situation by paying his wife and his children all the money from the contract is … Maybe people think it’s normal, but it is not in football.”
Liverpool and Wolves will meet in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday night.
The FA Cup fixture is the second time this week that Liverpool and Wolves have met. Slot’s side lost 2-1 to Rob Edwards’s team in the Premier League on Tuesday night.
Both sets of fans used the 18th minute of the fixture to sing about Jota in unison, with the game representing the first tie between the sides at Molineux since the brothers’ passing.
The Liverpool supporters in the away end displayed a banner of their own, which read: ‘Obrigado Diogo, forever our number 20’.
Jota spent three seasons at Molineux between 2017 and 2020, helping them earn promotion to the Premier League. He went on to make 182 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 65 goals.
Join our LFC WhatsApp community and get all the latest LFC news, views, transfer gossip and more, as it happens We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
£43
£35
Sky
Get the deal here
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
