Fans, players, experts, pundits – everyone remains in stunned grief following the sudden and tragic death of Diogo Jota, who passed away alongside his brother Andre Silva in the early hours of Thursday morning in Zamora, Spain. Just 28 years old, Jota’s life and career were cut short in the most unimaginable circumstances—less than two weeks after marrying his long-time partner Rute Cardoso, and just weeks after winning the Premier League with Liverpool and the Nations League with Portugal.
While tributes have come pouring in from teammates, clubs, and fans across the globe, one short but powerful gesture by Lionel Messi has captured hearts and stirred emotions, quietly echoing the earlier words of fellow icon Cristiano Ronaldo.
In the moments following confirmation of the accident, Cristiano Ronaldo posted an emotional Instagram message, expressing disbelief over the loss of his national teammate: “Doesn’t make any sense. Just now we were together in the national team, just now you were married.
“To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. R.I.P. Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”
Now, Lionel Messi has followed in those footsteps. Though he never played alongside Jota, the Argentine’s respect for the Portuguese forward came through in a quiet but profoundly moving tribute.
Messi’s silent message: Global farewell
On Friday morning, Messi took to Instagram to post a black-and-white image of Diogo Jota, shown from behind, arms raised in celebration while wearing his iconic number 20 Liverpool shirt. Beneath the image were three simple letters: “QEPD”—“Que En Paz Descanse”, Spanish for “Rest in Peace.”
The post, stripped of captions or commentary, carried a weight that words could hardly match. In its simplicity, it was a shared gesture of mourning, bridging continents and fan bases in collective sorrow.
Lionel Messi’s post, a single image and a quiet phrase, reminds us of how grief transcends rivalry and borders. It was not about club or country—it was about human loss.
Jota’s death, alongside his 25-year-old brother Andre—also a professional player—occurred after their Lamborghini veered off the A-52 highway near Cernadilla, caught fire, and resulted in the deaths of both men. Police later confirmed a tyre blowout as the suspected cause of the crash. The incident has left Liverpool, Penafiel, the Portuguese FA, and the entire soccer community in mourning.
