Football star dies along with brother as car bursts into flames

LIVERPOOL footballer Diogo Jota has died in a car crash in Spain after a Lamborghini he was travelling in veered off the road and burst into flames following a suspected tyre blowout.

- PRESS ASSOCIATION REPORTERS

Tributes from the football world and beyond flooded in for the 28-year-old father of three, who had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso just 11 days before.

Jota was found dead alongside his brother Andre Silva following the crash on the A-52 in Palacios de Sanabria near the city of Zamora at 12.40am yesterday.

Police said they were investigating the possibility that the Lamborghini left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking, and a source from the government sub-delegation in Zamora confirmed “a possible speeding incident” was being looked at.

Liverpool said the club was “devastated” by the news and that it was an “unimaginable loss”.

The Portuguese Football Federation also said it was “devastated” to learn of the deaths, adding: “Their deaths represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football.”

Police said no other vehicles were involved in the incident.