In the weeks leading up to his June 2025 wedding, Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota underwent a minor surgical procedure that temporarily grounded him from air travel. Medical professionals advised the 28 year old against flying while recovering, citing post operative precautions intended to minimize risks such as blood clots or pressure related complications.

Determined not to miss both his wedding in Porto and his club’s pre season return, Jota opted for a careful overland route instead. He travelled by ferry from Liverpool to Santander, a port city in northern Spain, and then continued the rest of the journey by car to Portugal. The decision underscored both his commitment to family and his sense of responsibility to Liverpool FC, as he was already planning the same route in reverse to report for training in early July.

Jota’s disciplined adherence to medical advice reflected his long standing professionalism and care for his health. Tragically, it was during the return leg of this journey that Jota and his brother Andre were involved in a fatal car accident before reaching Santander.

His club and medical staff had fully supported the overland arrangement, believing it to be a safe and necessary alternative. The surgery itself had been successful and minor in nature, with no complications expected, only a short term restriction on flying due to medical protocol.

According to the Spanish Civil Guard, Jota's Lamborghini Huracan suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking another car, and veered off the road before catching fire.The incident occurred on 3rd July 2025 at around 00:40 CEST on the A-52 motorway (kilometre point 65 in the direction of Benavente), in the municipality of Cernadilla in the Province of Zamora.

Spanish newspaper Marca was the first outlet to publish news of the brothers' deaths.Later in the day, Spanish emergency services confirmed the crash and that both brothers died at the scene.