Spanish authorities announced on Tuesday that excessive speed is likely to have caused the vehicle driven by Liverpool and Portugal football star Diogo Jota to swerve off a motorway in Spain last week, resulting in his death and that of his brother.
The sudden passing of Jota, 28, and his brother, André Silva, 25, occurred on July 3.
Their death occurred less than two weeks after the former Wolverhampton Wanderers player got married, plunging the global football community into deep mourning.
Investigators are currently examining the marks left by one of the vehicle’s wheels.
The Civil Guard stated that everything points to a possible excessive speed beyond the road’s speed limit.
The agency further confirmed that all the tests conducted so far indicate that the driver of the vehicle was Jota.
Previously, the Civil Guard suggested that a tire blowout might have occurred while the vehicle was attempting to overtake, leading to the crash and subsequent fire in the northwestern province of Zamora.
Hours before the fatal incident, Jota shared a video from his June 22 wedding to his partner, Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children.
The news of their deaths triggered an immense outpouring of grief, particularly in their home country of Portugal and at Jota’s Premier League club.
Political figures, along with renowned players from both Portugal and Liverpool, joined family and friends at the funeral service held last Saturday in Gondomar, a suburb of Porto.
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Jota became a beloved player at Liverpool following his move to the Premier League giants in 2020 after successful careers with Atletico Madrid, Porto, and Wolverhampton.
He scored 65 goals for the Reds over five seasons, contributing to their League Cup and FA Cup triumphs in the 2021/22 season, and helping them secure a record-tying 20th English league title last season.
The striker also represented Portugal 49 times internationally and was part of the squad that clinched this year’s UEFA Nations League title.
His younger brother, André, played as a midfielder for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second-tier league.
