Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has finally broken his silence following the tragic death of Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and his brother André in a car crash last Thursday in northern Spain.
In an emotional Instagram post, Klopp poured out his grief and disbelief, mourning the 28-year-old striker who played a key role in Liverpool’s recent success. He wrote, "This is a moment where I struggle!
There must be a bigger purpose!
But I can't see it!” Klopp wrote. “I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother André. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much! All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them! Rest in peace – Love.”
The heartfelt tribute comes days after news broke that Jota and his brother died in a fatal crash on the A-52 motorway near Zamora. Their vehicle reportedly veered off the road and caught fire, claiming both lives instantly.
Jota had just married his longtime partner and mother of his three children, Rute Cardoso, less than two weeks before the accident. His final Instagram post, a wedding video captioned “A day we will never forget,” has now taken on heartbreaking significance.
Klopp, who brought Jota to Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 for £45 million, had always praised the forward as a complete player and a great personality.
“Exceptional player, exceptional boy,” Klopp once said of Jota. “He has everything that a Liverpool player in this squad needs.”
Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool, helping the club to FA Cup and League Cup victories, and was a key figure in their Premier League title chase. He also became the first Liverpool player in history to score in his first four home games.
Beyond the pitch, Jota was known for his infectious joy, humility, and love for video games—he even owned an esports team and won a FIFA tournament among Premier League players during the pandemic.
Tributes have continued to pour in. Cristiano Ronaldo, who played alongside Jota for Portugal, also reacted in shock, saying:
“It doesn’t make sense… Just now we were together in the national team… Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.”
The Portuguese Football Federation described Jota as “an extraordinary person” and requested a minute’s silence ahead of Portugal’s Women’s UEFA Euro fixture in honour of the brothers.
As fans continue to lay flowers and jerseys at Anfield, Klopp’s message echoes what many are feeling — a sense of loss that goes far beyond football.
