LISBON — July 29, 2025
In a shocking twist to the ongoing investigation into the tragic death of Diogo Jota, Portuguese authorities confirmed this morning that a second, previously unknown mobile phone belonging to the late Liverpool star was discovered locked inside a private safe in Lisbon — and its contents are already changing the course of the investigation.
A Hidden Device in a Private Safe
The discovery was made during a routine follow-up at a Lisbon property registered under a shell company linked to Jota’s name. Inside a walk-in wardrobe, authorities found a digitally locked safe behind a false panel.
Once opened, the safe contained a single item: an older-model encrypted smartphone, which had not been used on any of Jota’s known accounts.
“What we found inside this phone has blown the case wide open,” said a police spokesperson. “It’s no longer just about an accident — we are now looking at several other angles, including deliberate interference.”
Deleted Messages, Undeleted Truth
According to investigators, the phone contained:
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Over 400 messages exchanged with an unidentified contact saved only as ‘R.’
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A hidden media vault with over 200 images and voice notes, most of which do not appear anywhere in Jota’s primary cloud backup.
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A calendar app with recurring monthly entries simply titled “Room 214”.
Some of the most disturbing content includes a 3-minute video message that Jota recorded but never sent — in which he appears visibly emotional and says:
“If anything happens to me, make sure this phone gets to someone who’ll tell the truth.”
Family in Shock — Wife Reportedly Collapses
Sources close to the family say that when Jota’s wife was informed of the phone’s contents, she was “devastated and overwhelmed”, reportedly collapsing shortly after seeing one of the saved images.
“She had no idea this side of his life even existed,” one family friend told the press. “Everything she thought she knew is now in question.”
Investigation Reopened
In response to the discovery, both Portuguese and British police have agreed to reopen the investigation into the events surrounding Jota’s death. Authorities have not ruled out foul play and are now working to trace the identity of “R.” — a person believed to hold crucial information.
Liverpool FC Declines Comment
Liverpool FC has issued a brief statement expressing condolences and confirming their cooperation with authorities. When asked whether any club personnel might be involved or mentioned in the phone, a representative said only,
“We are shocked by these revelations and are taking them seriously.”
DEVELOPING:
Forensic teams are currently analyzing metadata from the phone and believe a second backup might exist — possibly in another country.
Stay tuned as more information is expected to drop within 48 hours.