Diogo Jota, 4 Other Athletes Who Have Died in a Vehicle Crash

On July 3, 2025, the football world was stunned by the devastating news of Diogo Jota’s death. The 28-year-old Portuguese forward died alongside his younger brother, André Silva, in a fiery car crash near Cernadilla, Spain. 

The incident occurred when their Lamborghini reportedly suffered a tire blowout while overtaking on the A-52 highway, veering off the road before bursting into flames.

Just weeks earlier, Jota had celebrated both personal and professional highs marrying his long-time partner Rute Cardoso and helping Liverpool lift the Premier League title. 

He was also a regular in the Portuguese national team and had built a reputation as a tireless and clinical attacker. His death has sparked an outpouring of grief from fans, teammates, and football associations around the world.

But Jota’s tragic passing also reminds us of other athletes whose lives were cut short due to vehicle-related accidents, on land, air, or sea.

José Antonio Reyes

In June 2019, former Arsenal and Sevilla winger José Antonio Reyes died in a car crash in Spain at the age of 35. Reports indicated that Reyes was driving at an extremely high speed, reaching up to 135 mph when his vehicle veered off the road and caught fire. 

A player known for his flair and pace, Reyes had only recently returned to Spain to play for Extremadura UD. His death shocked fans across Europe, especially in England and Spain, where he had left a lasting legacy.

Kobe Bryant

While not a car accident, the death of NBA icon Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash in January 2020 carries the same haunting weight. The retired Los Angeles Lakers superstar was traveling with his daughter Gianna and seven others when their helicopter crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California. Bryant was 41. 

The crash was attributed to poor weather conditions, and the world mourned the loss of one of basketball’s greatest ever players.

Camille Muffat

French Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat died in 2015 during the filming of a reality TV show in Argentina. She was in a helicopter that collided mid-air with another helicopter, killing all ten people on board. 

Muffat had won three Olympic medals, including gold in the 400m freestyle at the London 2012 Olympics. She was just 25 at the time of the crash and had recently retired from professional swimming.

Emiliano Sala

Argentine footballer tragically died in 2019 while traveling from Nantes, France, to Cardiff, Wales, to complete a major career transfer. 

The small aircraft carrying him crashed into the English Channel. Sala was only 28, and the plane was later found to have had multiple mechanical issues. His death sparked a renewed conversation around private flight safety in football.