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Cristiano Ronaldo's Reaction to Diogo Jota's Tragic Death

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 8:05 AM ET

On Thursday morning, the soccer world learned the tragic news that Liverpool FC forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva, 25, died in a car accident in Spain.

“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota,” LFC said in a club statement.

“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.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of the Portugal national team for which Jota made 49 international appearances, struggled to make sense of the death of his teammate.

Ronaldo, 40, wrote the following message to his 659 million followers on Instagram, translated by the platform from Portuguese to English.

"Doesn’t make any sense," Ronaldo wrote. "Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you were married. To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. R.I.P. Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”

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A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

Jota recently tied the knot with Rute Cardoso in his home city of Porto. The couple have three children. Silva was a professional player for Portuguese club Penafiel.

Jota was part of the Portugal squad for UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024. His first international appearance came as a substitute for Ronaldo on Nov. 14, 2019.

On behalf of the European football community, we are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Diogo Jota, Portugal international and Liverpool FC forward, along with his brother André Silva.

Our thoughts are with their family, friends, teammates and all those affected… pic.twitter.com/kYCJiZMcX0
— UEFA (@UEFA) July 3, 2025