Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother died in a fiery car crash near Zamora in northwestern Spain, Spanish state-owned TV station said on Thursday, citing local firefighters.

The regional fire department of Castille-Leon, where Zamora is located, said on its website a car crashed shortly after midnight on Thursday and burst into flames, with two men, aged 28 and 26, found dead.

The Portuguese football federation also confirmed the death of Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who plays for FC Penafiel. "The Portuguese Football Federation and the entire Portuguese football community are devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva in Spain this morning," it said in a statement. 

"The Portuguese Football Federation would like to offer the deepest condolences to the families and friends of Diogo and André, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the respective clubs of the player," the statement added.

Jota, who got married on June 28, helped Liverpool win the Premier League last season and also won the FA Cup and League Cup with the Merseyside outfit.

Jota arrived at Anfield from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club in all competitions. He also made 49 appearances for Portugal, twice winning the UEFA Nations League.

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