Physical therapist Miguel Goncalves, the last medical professional to speak with Diogo Jota, has shared poignant details of the striker’s final hours before the fatal accident that claimed the lives of both him and his younger brother, Andre Silva.
The football world was left shattered after the sudden death of the talented forward Diogo Jota and his brother in a horrific crash. Their Lamborghini reportedly suffered a tire blowout while overtaking another vehicle on the A-52 highway near Cernadilla in Zamora—just 16 km from the Portuguese border. The car veered off and burst into flames.
Goncalves confirmed that Jota had not consumed any alcohol before setting off on their journey to England. The brothers had driven from Portugal through northern Spain, planning to board a ferry from Santander en route to England. Jota had chosen not to fly after medical advice warned that air travel could adversely affect his health following recent lung surgery.
In an emotional revelation, the doctor disclosed that he last spoke with the brothers at 8:30 pm on July 2—just hours before the accident occurred at around 12:35 am on July 3. He told reporters: “Diogo was very professional and cautious. He was scheduled for a follow-up scan in Liverpool on July 7. I was genuinely shocked by the news.”
They had opted to travel overnight to avoid the heat and were planning a stopover in Burgos before continuing to Santander. “He’s extremely professional… Diogo said the drive would take about eight hours, with a hotel stop along the way. His family would fly to England to prepare for the weekend,” Goncalves added.
He emphasized, “Neither of the brothers drank or partied. They were cheerful, relaxed, and showed no signs of anything unusual.”
Regarding Jota’s recovery, Goncalves confirmed that the athlete’s lung had shown significant improvement. “Diogo’s right lung had collapsed, but his recovery was impressive. After yesterday’s session, he was pain-free and ready to return to Liverpool. He was excited and confident about the upcoming season. He had even opted out of Liverpool’s pre-season tour in Japan to focus on recovery. He was determined to have a great season ahead.”
Images captured the wreckage at the crash site, the Lamborghini’s remains, and the vehicle transporting the brothers’ bodies back to Portugal. Funeral services are scheduled: a memorial chapel at São Cosme, near Porto – where Jota recently married his long-time partner Rute Cardoso on June 22 – and the burial at 10 am on July 5 at Igreja Matriz de Gondomar.
