Tyre blowout caused Jota crash as Portugal honour him one year on at World Cup

A tyre blowout caused the crash that killed Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in the early hours of a July morning in 2024, Spanish Civil Guard investigators confirmed. The Lamborghini Huracán Jota was driving veered off the A-52 road — roughly 70 miles west of Valladolid — at approximately 12.40am while he was attempting to overtake another vehicle, and burst into flames. Both men died at the scene.

Jota, 28, had been travelling by road because he had been advised against flying after undergoing lung surgery. He and André, 25, were heading to the northern Spanish port city of Santander to board an overnight ferry to Portsmouth, from where Jota planned to continue by car to Liverpool. CNN Portugal journalist Rui Laura explained the arrangement: “He was on his way to the northern Spanish port city of Santander to cross the ferry and reach the UK that way, and carry on with the car once he reached Britain. He was on his way to Liverpool with his brother.”

Firefighters, emergency services and the Civil Guard extinguished the blaze, but both occupants were confirmed dead. A Civil Guard statement from Zamora read: “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.”

André Silva, 25, was himself a professional footballer, playing for Portuguese club Penafiel at the time of his death.

The anniversary falls on the eve of Portugal’s World Cup 2026 round-of-32 fixture against Croatia, and the squad have worn tribute wristbands throughout the tournament in Jota’s memory. His image was displayed on stadium screens before Portugal’s opening group game against DR Congo, a gesture that visibly moved his parents in the stands.

Jota’s final competitive appearance had come weeks before his death, when he lifted the UEFA Nations League trophy with Portugal. His wife, Rute — whom he had married just 11 days before the crash — has since revealed that representing his country at a World Cup had been his lifelong dream. Teammate Ruben Neves has said he still sends Jota WhatsApp messages to this day.

Jota had also recently celebrated winning the Premier League title with Liverpool before his death, capping a season that had brought him both domestic glory and international honour.