Virgil van Dijk makes emotional promise to Diogo Jota's family after tragic death

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has vowed to support Diogo Jota's family after the forward's tragic death at the age of just 28. Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The pair were driving near the Zamora area of northern Spain when their Lamborghini suffered a tyre blowout while attempting to overtake another vehicle and came off the road. The world of football has paid tribute to Jota and Van Dijk has share his own emotional message.

Posting on Instagram, Van Dijk wrote: "Man, I can't believe it, I don't wanna believe it. Absolutely devastated and in total disbelief. What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man.

"You meant so much to all of us and you always will! For your family to lose two sons, a husband and a father is just unimaginable. So cruel and unfair. My heart is breaking for all of your beautiful family, for Rute and for your kids.

"I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family. A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch, and to have been your friend off it.

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"We will miss you beyond words and never forget you. Your legacy will live on, we will make sure of it! Rest in perfect peace Diogo & Andre."

Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso just 11 days before the accident, with the couple having three children together. He had also attended the wedding of his close friend and former teammate Jose Sa only five days before the crash.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot, meanwhile, described Jota as a "loved one to all" in a heartbreaking tribute. "What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not," Slot said.

"All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about. My first thoughts are not those of a football manager.

"They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss. My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone.

"The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football. This is not solely a response to tragedy.

"It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole. For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute.

"Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special. I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it."

The club also released an emotional statement, promising to 'immortalise' the number 20 he wore during the season he helped the Reds to their historic 20th title.

"The No.20 will be rightly immortalised for his contributions as part of Liverpool’s 2024-25 title-winners – the club’s 20th – with his trademark shimmy and strike in front of the Kop to seal victory in April’s Merseyside derby a poignant last goal of his life.

"More joy and special moments followed just last month as Portugal – Jota represented his country 49 times and 14 of his overall senior total of 150 goals came in internationals – lifted the Nations League trophy.

"And he then celebrated marriage to wife Rute, with whom he had three children, on June 22.

"'His name is Diogo,' rang the chorus of that very own supporter chant. And we’ll never forget it."