Spanish investigators have ruled there was no criminal liability over the car crash that killed former Liverpool striker Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva, bringing a formal end to the criminal proceedings while leaving the door open for civil claims.
The High Court of Justice in the province of Zamora, north-west Spain, dismissed the case last November after reviewing all evidence and consulting road traffic collision experts, according to a court insider. The ruling concluded that no criminal action was necessary regarding the deaths of both men. However, the same source noted that the dismissal of criminal proceedings does not prevent the affected parties from bringing a civil action to claim whatever they deem appropriate.
Crash cause: blown tyre and loss of control
The fatal collision occurred on July 3, 2025, on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla in northern Spain. Investigators and the Civil Guard determined that the Lamborghini Huracán Jota was driving suffered a blown-out tyre while overtaking another vehicle. The blowout caused the car to veer off the road, hit a barrier in the middle of the carriageway, and burst into flames.
All available evidence pointed to Diogo Jota being behind the wheel. Preliminary investigations indicated the vehicle was travelling significantly in excess of the 120 km/h (75 mph) speed limit, with tyre marks analysed as part of the assessment. One eyewitness, a lorry driver named Mr. Azevedo, told investigators he filmed the car on fire and claimed the Lamborghini passed him calmly and without speeding, providing his video footage as proof. The court’s final determination, backed by expert analysis, attributed the loss of control to the tyre blowout rather than excessive speed alone.
The brothers were on a road trip from Portugal to the northern Spanish port city of Santander, where they planned to catch a ferry to the UK. Jota was due to return to Liverpool for pre-season training. He had recently undergone minor lung surgery in Porto to repair a partially collapsed lung (pneumothorax) and had been advised by medical professionals not to travel by plane due to the risks associated with cabin pressure changes on a healing lung. His physiotherapist confirmed he was recovering well and was excited about the upcoming season. Jota had postponed the surgery earlier to play in the UEFA Nations League.
Tributes and family support
Both brothers were professional footballers. Diogo Jota, 28, had scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool, winning the Premier League in 2025, an FA Cup, and two EFL Cups. He joined Liverpool for a reported £41 million in 2020 after a key role in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ promotion to the Premier League, scoring 44 goals in 131 appearances. Internationally, he represented Portugal 49 times, scoring 14 goals, and was part of squads for two UEFA European Championships and two UEFA Nations League-winning campaigns (2019 and 2025). Off the pitch, he was known for his passion for gaming and owned his own eSports team.
Andre Silva, 26, played as an attacking midfielder and left winger for Portuguese second-tier side FC Penafiel. He came through the youth systems at Gondomar, FC Porto, Paços de Ferreira, Famalicão, and Boavista. Silva represented Portugal at various youth levels, scoring four goals in a single match against Hungary in the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship to help his side reach the final, and also played for the U20 team in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Tributes poured in from across the football world. Liverpool FC retired Jota’s number 20 shirt across all teams in his honour and are planning a permanent memorial sculpture at Anfield using the thousands of tributes left by fans. Floral tributes have been composted and used in flower beds across club sites. The club’s new kits for the 2025-26 season feature a commemorative emblem. Supporters have continued to honour Jota by singing his song on the 20th minute at every home game this season.
Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), committed to supporting Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, and their three children. This included honouring the entirety of his Liverpool contract, which was reported to be worth in the region of £140,000 per week and was due to expire in 2027. Rute Cardoso has actively participated in tributes: two of her sons appeared as mascots when Jota’s former clubs Liverpool and Wolves met in the Premier League in December 2025. Fans from both teams paid heartfelt tributes throughout the game. After the match, Rute wrote on Instagram, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the club and to all the fans for the love, respect and support shown during this incredibly difficult time. Your messages and gestures have meant more than words can express.” She also ran a 10km race in Porto wearing the number 20.
Jota had married his childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso at a church in Porto, Portugal, just 11 days before the devastating collision. His wife was later called upon to identify his body and personal belongings. A funeral was held for both brothers two days after their deaths in a chapel in Gondomar, a city overlooking Porto where both played during their academy careers. The Liverpool squad attended, with club captain Virgil van Dijk carrying a wreath in the shape of a football shirt featuring Jota’s No20, and Andrew Robertson carrying a wreath with the No30 that Silva wore at his club.
