The football world is reeling from the sudden and tragic loss of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in Spain on July 3, alongside his brother. The 28-year-old Portuguese international’s untimely death has sent shockwaves through the global sports community, bringing an abrupt end to a career brimming with talent and potential.
The Liverpool FC star got married to the life of his life Rute Cardoso just 10 days before this tragic incident. Rute was a constant presence in Jota’s life. Born around 1996 in Porto, Rute’s life changed when she met a teenage Diogo Jota during high school. What began as a simple friendship soon blossomed into a deep romance that lasted over a decade and resulted in a young family of five.
The couple began dating in 2013, just as Jota was beginning to rise through the ranks in Portuguese football. From his early days at Paços de Ferreira, through his stints at FC Porto, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and eventually Liverpool, Rute was by his side every step of the way. She was the behind-the-scenes anchor, caring for their home and children while Diogo focused on his career. Their relationship was built not on flashy public moments but on shared roots, loyalty, and years of growing together.
Who is Diogo Jota’s wife?
Though Rute mostly stayed out of the limelight, fans occasionally caught glimpses of their life together through her social media posts, beach days, airport hugs, and cheering from the stands. The couple announced in August 2020 that they were expecting their first child, Dinis, who was born in February 2021. A second child arrived in March 2023, followed by a third in late 2024 or early 2025.
While Diogo played on some of football’s biggest stages, Rute held down the fort, raising their children and offering unwavering support. Known for her privacy, she wasn’t afraid to speak up when needed, famously calling out Premier League referees on social media in October 2023 after a controversial match, referring to officials as “clowns” in defense of her husband.
After twelve years together, Rute and Diogo got married in an intimate ceremony in Porto on 22 June 2025, surrounded by close friends and family. It was a long-awaited moment that marked the formal beginning of their next chapter together. But that joy was tragically short-lived.
Just ten days after their wedding, tragedy struck. On 3 July 2025, Diogo and his brother André died in a car crash in Zamora, Spain, when a tire burst on their Lamborghini, sending the car off the road and into flames. The news sent shockwaves through the football world. Tributes poured in from Liverpool FC, the Portugal Football Federation, teammates, and fans across the globe.