LeBron James pays tribute to Diogo Jota

LeBron James paid tribute to soccer star Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in Spain on Thursday.

James is a partner of Fenway Sports Group, which owns Liverpool FC, the club Jota played for.

“My prayers go out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA JOTA!!” James posted to X.

YNWA stands for “you’ll never walk alone,” the song-based motto of Liverpool fans.

Jota, 28, was killed along with his younger brother, André Silva, also a professional soccer player.

Spanish authorities said their car left the road and caught fire in Zamora in north-west Spain.

Jota had played in the English Premier League for Liverpool since 2020, a club with which he had won the title, the FA Cup, and the League Cup. He was a pacy attacker who wore the number 20 shirt.

Ronaldo Reacts to Jota News

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said he was struggling to comprehend the news of his international teammate’s sudden passing.

“It doesn’t make sense,” Ronaldo posted to X, formerly Twitter, originally in Portuguese.

“Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you got married.

“To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them.

“Rest in Peace, Diogo and André. We will all miss you.”

Jota had married his longtime partner Rute Cardoso, the mother of their three children, less than two weeks before his death.

‘Devastated’ Liverpool FC Asks for Privacy

Liverpool FC in a statement said the club was “devastated” by the news of Jota’s death, and asked for privacy for those close to their player.

The club said: “Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.

“We will continue to provide them with our full support.”

Portugal: ‘We Have Lost Two Champions’

Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), said everyone at his organization and “all of Portuguese football is completely devastated” by the deaths of the two players.

Proença called Jota “an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with contagious joy,” and expressed his “deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Jota, as well as to Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel.”

“The Portuguese Football Federation has already requested UEFA to hold a minute of silence this Thursday, before the match between our national team and Spain in the Women’s European Championship,” Proença said.

“We have lost two champions. The loss of Diogo and André Silva is an irreparable one for Portuguese football, and we will do everything we can, every day, to honor their legacy.”