Cristiano Ronaldo pays emotional tribute to Diogo Jota

They played together for the Portuguese national team

The 39-year-old posted a message to his 115 million Twitter/X followers. It reads: “It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married. 

“To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.” 

The message has been translated from Portuguese. 

Jota passed away in a car accident in Zamora, Spain on the A-52 road at 12.30pm last night while travelling with his brother Andre, 26, who also died in the accident. The tragic incident has been confirmed by Spanish police .

Ronaldo’s tribute follows those made by both his club Liverpool FC and the Portuguese national team. 

The awful news comes just a fortnight after Jota married his long-term girlfriend Rute Cardoso in Porto.

Jota also has three children.

Official tributes to the 28-year-old will begin tonight at the UEFA Women's Championships.

European football's governing body said: "UEFA announces that a moment of silence will be observed at all of today’s and tomorrow’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 matches in memory of Portugal international and Liverpool FC forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva who tragically passed away today."

As a footballer, Jota was on the back of a very successful season with Liverpool who became Premier League champions in May.

He made 182 appearances for Liverpool after signing for the six-time European champions for £40m in 2020.