Lionel Messi Honors Diogo Jota After Tragic Car Accident

A Heartfelt Tribute from Messi

In a touching gesture, Lionel Messi, the legendary World Cup champion from Argentina, expressed his condolences for Liverpool striker Diogo Jota, who tragically lost his life in a car accident.

The 28-year-old forward, who played for both Liverpool and the Portugal national team, passed away in Spain on Thursday. Reports indicate that he was traveling with his brother at the time of the incident, as covered by various sports outlets. Both the Premier League and Liverpool Football Club shared their sympathies on social media platforms.

Messi took to Instagram to share a story that read 'QEPD', an abbreviation for 'que en paz descanse', which translates to 'Rest in Peace' in English.

Jota's Football Journey

Diogo Jota began his football journey in Porto, Portugal, where he honed his skills at the Pacos de Ferreira academy before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2016. However, he did not make any appearances for Atletico and was soon loaned back to Porto.

In 2018, Jota joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, where he played under Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo for two years. His career took another significant turn in September 2020 when he signed with Liverpool.

During his time with the Reds, Jota contributed to the team's success, including winning the Premier League title for the 2024-25 season. He also participated in the 2021/22 Champions League final against Real Madrid, coming off the bench in a match that ended 1-0.

This season, he made 26 appearances for Liverpool, netting six goals. Jota debuted for the Portugal national team in November 2019 and played in both the Euro 2022 and Euro 2024 tournaments. Unfortunately, he missed the FIFA World Cup 2022 due to injury. Recently, he was part of the Portugal squad that clinched the UEFA Nations League title, triumphing over Spain in a penalty shootout.