Liverpool and Portuguese international striker Diogo Jota has died in a car crash in northwestern Spain.
The Spanish civil guard confirmed to The Associated Press that the 28-year-old Jota and his brother Andre Silva (25) were found dead after their car went off a road near city of Zamora.
Police were investigating the causes. They said there were no other vehicles involved.
The striker died less than two weeks after his wedding. He had three children with his wife Rute Cardoso.
Silva played with Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower divisions.
According to the BBC, the Spanish civil guard said in a statement that the car, a Lamborghini, left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking.
It said that the accident happened in the early hours of Thursday. According to the statement, "the car caught on fire and the two occupants were killed."
The Portuguese soccer federation released a statement lamenting the deaths. Federation president Pedro Proença said Portuguese soccer was "completely devastated."
"More than a fantastic player, with almost 50 appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his colleagues and opponents. He had a contagious joy and was a reference in his community," Proença said in the statement.
The Portuguese federation said it has requested a minute of silence before Thursday's match between Portugal and Spain at the Women's European Championship being played in Switzerland.
"We have lost two champions. Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can to honour their legacy every day," the Portuguese Football Federation said.
Jota signed for Liverpool in September 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 for a fee more than STG40 million.
He won the English Premier League with Liverpool in May, having scored six goals in 26 games on their way to the title.
Jota also started on the bench for Portugal in the Nations League final against Spain in June before coming on in extra time and ended victorious in a penalty shootout.
He made 49 appearances for Portugal, twice winning the UEFA Nations League.
with The AP and PA
with AP