Lisbon, Portugal — July 16, 2025
In a stunning revelation that could dramatically alter the timeline of events leading to Diogo Jota’s fatal car crash, police have confirmed that the footballer made a large, unexplained money transfer just 20 minutes before the accident — and that the reply he received shortly afterward may have triggered his catastrophic loss of control.
According to investigators, Jota used a private banking app to wire the substantial sum to an account registered in another country. The recipient’s identity has not yet been disclosed, but the transaction has been flagged as “unusual and highly confidential”, bypassing his primary financial advisors and family.
What has shocked authorities — and devastated the Jota family — is what happened next.
Just 20 minutes after the transfer, Jota received a short reply via encrypted messaging. Police have confirmed the content of the message consisted of only three words:
“It’s too late.”
Moments after reading the message, GPS data from Jota’s car shows erratic movements, inconsistent braking, and sharp lane deviation — all leading up to the deadly crash.
“We believe this message may have had a significant emotional or psychological impact on Mr. Jota at a critical moment,” said a senior officer involved in the case. “The timing is deeply concerning — it occurred less than five minutes before the crash sequence began.”
Forensic teams are now working with cybercrime experts to trace the origin of the message and determine the full conversation history. Authorities are also reviewing whether the transfer was voluntary, coerced, or part of a larger financial or personal dispute.
Jota’s widow was briefed on the update earlier today. A source close to the family described her reaction as “shattered,” saying she had no knowledge of the account, the transaction, or the person who sent the final message.
This chilling discovery adds yet another layer to the growing mystery surrounding Jota’s final days — which already include a hidden diary, a sealed letter, a mysterious note in his bag, and a private folder of undisclosed assets.
As the investigation intensifies, one question now looms above all:
Who sent those three words — and what were they too late for?