The soccer world is in mourning following the tragic death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, in a car crash in Spain. The 28-year-old Portuguese star and his 25-year-old brother died early Thursday morning near Zamora, in northwestern Spain, when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames.
News of Jota's death has sent shockwaves through the soccer community, with tributes pouring in from teammates, rivals, and fans alike. Liverpool Football Club released a statement expressing their devastation at the tragic passing of Jota and his brother. The club stated they would make no further comment and requested privacy for the family, friends, teammates, and club staff.
Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro also commented on the "unexpected and tragic" deaths, recognizing Jota as "an athlete who greatly honored Portugal's name". The Portuguese Football Federation expressed that the entire football community was "completely devastated" by the loss. UEFA has confirmed that a moment of silence will be observed at Euro 2025 matches in memory of Jota and his brother.
Among those grieving is Chelsea's Pedro Neto, a close friend and teammate of Jota's from their time together at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed that Neto would decide whether to play in Friday's Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras, as he mourns the loss.
As Chelsea prepares to face Palmeiras in the Club World Cup quarter-final, the atmosphere is understandably somber. The Blues will be without Moises Caicedo due to suspension, potentially leading to a shift in the midfield with Enzo Fernandez possibly dropping deeper alongside Romeo Lavia. New signing Joao Pedro could make his debut, though he is likely to start on the bench, with Liam Delap expected to lead the attack.
Chelsea enters the match following a 4-1 extra-time victory against Benfica in the round of 16. Meanwhile, Palmeiras, who are also a Brazilian side, are unbeaten in this year's tournament. They secured their spot in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 extra-time win against Botafogo.
This will be only the second meeting between Chelsea and Palmeiras, with Chelsea having won the first. The previous encounter was the 2021 Club World Cup final, which Chelsea won 2-1 in extra time.
Despite the cloud of grief hanging over the team, Chelsea will aim to honor Jota's memory with a strong performance against Palmeiras. The match is scheduled for Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
