Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother killed in a car accident in Spain

MADRID (AP) — Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother were killed in a car accident in Spain when the Lamborghini they were in veered off a road and burst into flames, police said Thursday.

The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed to The Associated Press that the 28-year-old Jota and his 25-year-old brother, André Silva, were found dead near the northwestern city of Zamora.

Jota’s death comes weeks after he married Rute Cardoso while on vacation from a long season where he helped Liverpool win the Premier League title. On getting married, she wrote in a social media post, “Yes to forever.” He leaves behind three children, the youngest born last year.

Police were investigating the causes of the accident that occurred past midnight local time. They said there were no other vehicles involved and that the brothers were alone in the car. The bodies were undergoing forensic analysis.

It wasn't clear who was driving. Police were looking into the hypothesis that the accident happened because of a blown tire while they tried to overtake another vehicle.

The crash occurred while Jota and Silva, who is also a Portuguese soccer player, were traveling eastward along an isolated stretch of highway near the Portuguese border.

Video images of the aftermath published by Spanish media showed braking tire marks veering off the road toward torn-apart guardrails. The burnt-up car was seen several meters ahead, with vegetation around it destroyed by the fire.

Video shot by a trucker passing by the scene and published by local media showed the Lamborghini in flames.

Portuguese media reported that Jota was headed to the northern city of Santander to take a ferry to England after being advised not to fly following a recent lung procedure. The reports could not be immediately confirmed.

The funeral is expected to be Saturday in the Portuguese city of Porto.

Jota was on summer break from soccer after having helped Portugal win the Nations League. That June 8 final against Spain in Munich was his last match.

Liverpool’s players are due back for next season on Monday. But Jota's participation in the Nations League could have earned him some extra time off.

Liverpool said the club was “devastated."

“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.”

Liverpool fans placed flowers and team scarves outside Anfield stadium after news of Jota's death spread.

“What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot said in a statement. "All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.

“My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss,” he said.

Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and won three major trophies with the Merseyside club.

Jota scored 65 goals in 182 games for the Reds. His last goal for the club was the winner in the Merseyside derby against Everton in April, which moved the team closer to the league title.

His brother Silva played with Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower divisions.

Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said Jota was “an athlete who greatly honored Portugal’s name.”

“I extend my deepest condolences to their family,” he said. “It is a sad day for soccer and for national and international sports.”

Born in Porto in 1996, Jota made his professional debut with Portuguese club Paços de Ferreira.

Portuguese soccer federation president Pedro Proença said the community is “completely devastated.”

“More than a fantastic player, with almost 50 appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his colleagues and opponents. He had a contagious joy and was a reference in his community,” Proença said in the statement.

A period of silence was observed before Thursday's match between Portugal and Spain at the Women's European Championship played in Switzerland.

“We lost two champions,” Proença said. "Their deaths represent an irreparable loss for Portuguese soccer and we will all do our best to honor their legacy daily.”

Reaction poured in from across the world, including NBA star Lebron James — a minority owner at Liverpool — and tennis legend Rafael Nadal.

“It doesn't make any sense,” Jota's Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo said. “Just now we were together in the national team, just now you had gotten married. My condolences to your family, to your wife and to your children. I wish them all the strength in the world. I know that you will always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.”

Former club Porto and former teammates lamented the deaths and sent condolences, as did other clubs, federations and leagues.

The Premier League said it was “shocked and devastated.”

“Our sincerest condolences go to Diogo’s family, friends, Liverpool FC, and all their supporters at this heartbreaking time,” it said. “Football has lost a champion who will be forever missed. We will continue to support our friends and colleagues at the club.”

UEFA said its thoughts were with relatives, friends and teammates affected “by this heartbreaking loss.” It said a moment of silence will be also be observed at Euro 2025 matches on Friday.

At the Wimbledon tennis tournament, where the athletes must wear white uniforms while on court, an All England Club spokesman said if a player wants to honor Jota by wearing a black ribbon on their clothing, it would be allowed upon request.

Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain. AP Soccer Writer James Robson contributed to this report.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

People arrive to leave tributes in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota at Anfield Stadium, home of FC Liverpool in Liverpool, Thursday, July 3, 2025.(AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Football fans leave tributes in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool FC in Liverpool, Thursday, July 3, 2025.(AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Football fans leave tributes in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota at Anfield Stadium, home of FC Liverpool in Liverpool, Thursday, July 3, 2025.(AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

A funeral car is parked inside the forensic anatomical institute, where the bodies of the Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother killed in a car accident are being held, in the northwestern city of Zamora, Spain, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Paloma V. Escarpa)

A funeral car arrives at the forensic anatomical institute, where the bodies of the Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother killed in a car accident are being held, in the northwestern city of Zamora, Spain, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Paloma V. Escarpa)

Tributes in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool FC in Liverpool, Thursday, July 3, 2025.(AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

FILE - Liverpool's Diogo Jota in Liverpool, Aug. 21, 2021. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP, File)

People gather to leave tributes at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool, in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota, Thursday July 3, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

People lay flowers as tributes in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota, at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool, Thursday July 3, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

The site of the car accident in which Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother died in the north-western city of Zamora, Spain, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Fraile)

The site of the car accident in which Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother died in the north-western city of Zamora, Spain, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Fraile)

The site of the car accident in which Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother died in the north-western city of Zamora, Spain, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Fraile)

Tributes are left at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool, in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota, Thursday July 3, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

FILE - Liverpool's Diogo Jota celebrates scoring during the Premier League match at Carrow Road, Norwich, Saturday Aug. 14, 2021. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP, File)

FILE - Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, left, celebrates with his teammate Diogo Jota after he scored his side's second goal during the Euro 2020 group B qualifying soccer match between Luxembourg and Portugal at the Josy Barthel stadium in Luxembourg, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Tributes at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool, in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota, Thursday July 3, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Tributes at Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool, in memory of Liverpool player Diogo Jota, Thursday July 3, 2025. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

FILE - Liverpool's Diogo Jota reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

FILE - Liverpool's Diogo Jota gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)

FILE - Liverpool's Diogo Jota, left, celebrates with Liverpool's Darwin Nunez after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Fulham, at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

FILE - Liverpool's Diogo Jota scores his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Ipswich Town and Liverpool at Portman Road stadium in Ipswich, England, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

FILE - Liverpool's Diogo Jota reacts after missing a chance to score during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darren Staples, File)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.

Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)