Diogo Jota's Wife Rute Cardoso Was His High School Sweetheart

Just 11 days before Diogo Jota died in a fiery wreck in Spain, Rute Cardoso was standing at an altar with him, sharing vows.

However, his new wife now must do the unthinkable and bury her husband and the father of her three kids. The Liverpool soccer star and his brother, Andre Silva, died in a Lamborghini crash in Spain. The luxury car burst into flames, leaving the vehicle almost entirely obliterated.

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Cardoso was Jota's high school sweetheart and had dated him for 13 years, according to Daily Mail. Metro reported that they went to high school together in Porto, Portugal, and knew each other since 2012. He proposed in 2022 at a lake, the site reported.

Cardoso had recently posted her wedding photo to Instagram, declaring that it was her "dream come true." He responded, "But I'm the lucky one." The couple was married on June 22. She frequently posts family photos on her Instagram page.

"I love you Valentine," she wrote with a photo showing them standing head-to-head.

Liverpool.com reported that Cardoso helped police identify both brothers, attributing the information to Portuguese media. That site reported that the brothers' documents were also located, and that personal items were recovered at the scene and turned over to Jota's wife. Photos show that there was extensive damage from the blaze and crash.

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However, in contrast, CNN reported that authorities "identified the remains based on documents recovered at the scene of the accident, as well as the car’s license plate," attributing the information to CNN Portugal. Further "forensic testing at a morgue in Zamora confirmed the brothers’ identities," CNN Portugal reported.

Either way, it all amounts to a heartbreaking sequence of events for Jota's wife, who spent time with him at a friend's wedding before the crash.

Record published a final photo showing Jota with his wife at a friend's wedding over the weekend.

According to the Associated Press, the bodies of Jota and his brother are undergoing "forensic analysis." The AP reported that Jota was on vacation when the crash occurred.

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Jota and his wife were just married on June 22, and they posted a joint wedding video showing the happy day to their Instagram pages the day before he died.

Police believe a blown tire might have caused the brothers to crash, according to AP, and there are braking marks at the scene of the tragedy.

Related: Diogo Jota's Last Instagram Photo Shows Wedding to Wife Rute Cardoso

Diogo Jota's Wife Rute Cardoso Was His High School Sweetheart first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 3, 2025