Diogo Jota, 28, and his younger brother Andre Silva, 25, died on July 3, 2025, when their Lamborghini suffered a burst tyre while overtaking another vehicle on the A-52 motorway in Zamora, Spain. The car hit a barrier and burst into flames, according to major media reports.
The High Court of Justice for the region determined that no criminal proceedings can be brought. The Court of First Instance in Puebla de Sanabria dismissed the case in November 2025 after assessing documentary evidence and expert reports from the Civil Guard's Traffic Unit. A court spokesperson said: "The Court of First Instance in Puebla de Sanabria dismissed the case last November after assessing the documentary evidence in the file and, in particular, the expert reports issued by the Civil Guard's Traffic Unit."
It is not my place to tell them where they should look for comfort - if that is even possible - but I can only hope that the feeling of love and affection that Diogo still generates brings them some solace.
Jota was traveling back to England for pre-season by car because he was advised not to fly after a minor procedure. He joined Liverpool from Wolves in summer 2020 for up to £45 million. Silva played for Penafiel in the Portuguese second tier.
Jota's funeral was held in Gondomar on July 5, 2025, attended by Liverpool manager Arne Slot. Jota is survived by his wife Rute Cardoso and three children. Cardoso has moved back to Gondomar. Liverpool paid tribute to Jota in December 2025 when his sons Dinis and Duarte were mascots at Anfield. Slot said: "It is not my place to tell them where they should look for comfort - if that is even possible - but I can only hope that the feeling of love and affection that Diogo still generates brings them some solace."
The dismissal of criminal proceedings does not preclude civil action. A court spokesperson said: "The dismissal of the criminal proceedings does not preclude the possibility of the affected parties bringing a civil action to claim whatever they deem appropriate." It remains unclear whether any civil action has been filed by the families. Other unknowns include the exact speed of the vehicle at the time of the crash and whether any other vehicles were involved.