Nearly a year after a Lamborghini crash claimed the lives of Liverpool striker Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva, a Spanish court has ruled that no criminal liability exists in connection with the fatal accident.
The High Court of Justice in Zamora province issued the ruling on April 24, 2026, after concluding that the July 3, 2025, crash on the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla in northern Spain resulted from a tire blowout, not negligence or criminal wrongdoing. Investigators determined the Lamborghini Huracán suffered a blowout while overtaking another car, struck a central barrier, and burst into flames.
Jota, 28, and Silva, 25, perished in the accident that sent shockwaves through the global soccer community.
Court Closes Criminal Proceedings
The Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Castilla y León said the dismissal had been finalized months earlier. “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,” the court said in a statement.
Officials emphasized that while no criminal case will proceed, civil action remains an option for affected parties seeking damages. Road traffic collision specialists had reviewed the full case file alongside Civil Guard findings in November 2025.
The brothers were traveling through northern Spain toward Santander, where they intended to board a ferry to the U.K. Jota had chosen to drive back to England before pre-season training began because medical professionals had recommended against flying after lung surgery he received earlier that summer.
Liverpool Icon Lost After Championship Season
The tragedy struck just weeks after Jota completed the best season of his professional career. He had captured the Premier League title with Liverpool, the club’s record-equaling 20th league championship, and the UEFA Nations League with Portugal in the same year. In 26 league appearances for Arne Slot’s championship squad, the forward contributed six goals and four assists.
Liverpool acquired Jota from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2020 in a deal valued at up to £45 million ($58 million). He had previously helped Wolves earn promotion to the Premier League two years before that transfer. During five seasons at Anfield, he won four trophies and earned deep affection from the club’s supporters.
Silva had established his own career in professional soccer, playing for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second division when the accident occurred. Both brothers developed their skills in the FC Porto academy system.
Devastating Loss for Young Family
The loss became even more devastating because Jota had wed his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, at a church in Porto, Portugal, just 11 days before the fatal crash. He left behind Cardoso and their three children — two sons, Dinis and Duarte, and a daughter.
In an authorized biography released in Portugal in April 2026, titled Nunca Mais e Muito Tempo (“Never Again Is a Long Time”), Cardoso revealed that minutes before the crash, she had texted Jota to say their wedding video had arrived — a message he never read. She also disclosed that Jota had rented the Lamborghini for the journey and had little interest in expensive cars.
Funeral services for the brothers took place on July 5 at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in their hometown of Gondomar. Manager Arne Slot attended with a group of Liverpool players and staff. Captain Virgil van Dijk carried a wreath shaped like a football shirt bearing Jota’s number 20, while Andy Robertson — a close friend of Jota — brought a wreath displaying the number 30 that Silva wore at Penafiel.
Unprecedented Honor From Liverpool
In a historic move, Liverpool retired Jota’s No. 20 shirt across all teams — the first time the club had granted such an honor in its 133-year history. Fans have maintained a tradition of applauding in the 20th minute of every home match this season.
Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owners, committed to supporting Cardoso and the children, announcing they would honour the remainder of Jota’s contract. The agreement, which carried a reported weekly salary of £140,000, was scheduled to run through 2027.
When Liverpool met Jota’s former club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, in December 2025, Dinis and Duarte walked out at Anfield as mascots alongside captain Van Dijk in an emotional moment that moved supporters from both teams to tears. Cardoso publicly expressed gratitude to fans for their compassion afterward.
The tradition continued at Old Trafford on May 4, 2026, when a significant number of Manchester United supporters joined Liverpool fans in the 20th-minute applause — the first meeting between the clubs at United’s ground since Jota’s death.
Though the Spanish court’s decision provides legal finality to the investigation, the soccer world continues to mourn the loss of both brothers. For the families left behind, Liverpool’s faithful, and the countless fans who witnessed Jota reach the heights of European football, the pain endures alongside memories of his triumphant final season.
