Tragic Liverpool star Diogo Jota's touching message about brother before death aged 28

Diogo Jota once revealed that his favourite player to watch was his brother Andre, who also tragically passed away in the car crash that claimed the Liverpool star's life. Jota died following a fatal car accident in northwest Spain. The 28-year-old forward and his brother Andre Silva were both in the vehicle when the accident happened near Zamora, close to the Portuguese border, at around 12:40am on Thursday.

As the football world mourns, with many leading figures paying tribute, the deep bond between the brothers is becoming increasingly evident. During an appearance on ESPN's Ball Knowledge earlier this year, the Portuguese star was asked which players he enjoyed watching and why.

Without hesitation, Jota responded: "My brother," before adding: "My brother plays in the second division in Portugal, [he is] by far the one I most enjoyed."

The fact that Jota could have chosen any player in world football, having played with and against some of the biggest names in the game, but chose Andre out of profound love and respect is now more poignant than ever.

While Diogo's achievements with Liverpool, including their recent Premier League success, are well-known, Andre's accomplishments are also noteworthy.

An attacking midfielder, he was playing for Portuguese second-tier team FC Penafiel at the time of his death, having joined them in 2023 after a stint with Gondomar. He also had spells with Boavista and FC Famalicao's under-23 side during his career.

Andre made 102 appearances and netted 17 goals, primarily playing across the forward line. His efforts this season were instrumental, scoring twice and assisting five times in 32 matches, aiding his team to secure an 11th-place finish in the league.

In light of the news, Liverpool Football Club released a statement saying: "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.

"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."

Portuguese giants FC Porto also issued a statement. Both Jota and Andre had stints at the Portuguese club during their careers. Jota was loaned to the club from Atletico Madrid for the 2016/17 season, while Andre was part of Porto's academy.

The club shared their condolences on X, posting: "FC Porto is in mourning. It is with shock and deep sorrow that we send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who was also our athlete in the youth ranks. Rest in peace."