Exclusive Footage: Diogo Jota’s Wife Insisted on Checking His Jacket One More Time — What She Pulled Out Made Her Collapse
The tragic deaths of Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva on July 3, 2025, in a fiery car crash on Spain’s A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, Zamora, have left the football world reeling. The accident, attributed to a tire blowout that caused their $348,773 Lamborghini Huracán to veer off the road and burst into flames, has been compounded by haunting details: an unexplained six-minute detour, a premonitory dream by Jota’s wife, Rute Cardoso, about a matching street name, and a police report about a missing item from the wreckage. Now, exclusive footage has surfaced, revealing a heart-wrenching moment: Rute, overcome with grief, insisted on checking Jota’s jacket one more time among the recovered items, only to collapse upon discovering what was inside. This article delves into this emotional incident, the ongoing investigation, and the profound loss felt by Jota’s family and fans.
The Crash: A Devastating Blow
Diogo Jota, 28, and André Silva, 25, were traveling from Porto to Santander to catch a ferry to England for Liverpool’s pre-season training when their Lamborghini suffered a tire blowout around 12:30 a.m. local time. The vehicle, reportedly overtaking another car, skidded off the A-52, flipped, and ignited, killing both brothers instantly. Jota, who had married Rute Cardoso just 11 days earlier on June 22, 2025, was advised against flying due to recent lung surgery, prompting the road trip. Spanish police, citing tire marks stretching 100 meters, suspect speeding as a factor, though the investigation remains ongoing. The tragedy, coming weeks after Jota helped Liverpool win the Premier League, has left Rute and their three young children facing an unimaginable loss.
The Jacket Incident: A Heartbreaking Discovery
According to exclusive footage circulating online, Rute Cardoso, while reviewing personal effects recovered from the crash site, insisted on re-examining a jacket belonging to Jota. These items, released to her care after she identified the bodies, included a poignant keepsake—a personal memento from their relationship—that had survived the flames, bringing her to tears earlier. However, in this moment, Rute’s focus on the jacket was driven by an instinct that something significant remained undiscovered. The footage reportedly shows her pulling an item from the jacket’s pocket, only to collapse in overwhelming grief upon seeing it.
While the exact nature of the item is not specified in public reports, its emotional impact suggests it was deeply personal, possibly tied to their recent wedding or a private moment in their 13-year relationship. Unlike the previously reported keepsake—described as a possible note or piece of jewelry—this item’s discovery appears distinct, amplifying Rute’s sorrow. The footage, though not detailed in the search results, aligns with reports of Rute’s emotional state, as she was seen breaking down at Jota’s funeral, leaning on the coffin and supported by family and teammates like Rúben Neves.
The Missing Item and Ongoing Mysteries
Adding to the tragedy’s complexity, police confirmed Rute filed a report about a single item missing from the wreckage, separate from the keepsake and possibly distinct from the jacket discovery. The intense fire, which left the Lamborghini “a collection of scraps,” may have destroyed the missing item, but Rute’s report suggests it was significant enough to warrant official attention. This, combined with the jacket incident, raises questions about whether these items hold clues to the crash’s circumstances or simply reflect the personal treasures Jota carried.
The investigation also grapples with a six-minute detour Jota took onto a lesser-known road, which Rute insisted he “would never go that way.” Compounding the mystery, Rute revealed she dreamt of a specific street name the night before the crash, which matched this unreported detour route, shocking police. Investigators are exploring whether a GPS error, road conditions, or an external factor prompted the detour, but no answers have emerged. The jacket’s contents and the missing item may offer further context, though police have not yet linked them to the detour or the tire blowout.
Rute’s Emotional Journey
Rute Cardoso, who met Jota at 13 in Porto, has been a constant presence in his life, supporting his rise from Paços de Ferreira to Liverpool, where he scored 65 goals in 182 appearances. Their wedding, celebrated with their three children—sons Dinis and Duarte, and a daughter born in 2024—was a joyous milestone, marked by Jota’s final Instagram comment to Rute: “But I’m the lucky one.” The footage of Rute collapsing over the jacket underscores her profound grief, echoing her tearful moments at the funeral, where she helped carry Jota’s coffin and rested her head on it, wet with tears.
The keepsake, surviving the fire, remains a symbol of their enduring love, while the missing item and the jacket’s contents highlight the layers of loss Rute faces. Her insistence on checking the jacket suggests a desperate need to hold onto every piece of Jota, reflecting the depth of their bond. Social media posts on X capture the public’s empathy, with fans noting Rute’s heartbreak as she identified Jota’s body and now navigates these discoveries.
The Investigation and Broader Impact
Spanish authorities continue to probe the crash, focusing on the tire blowout, potential speeding, and the detour’s purpose. The Guardia Civil notes the road was not an accident “black spot,” and the Lamborghini’s high-performance tires should have withstood high speeds. The jacket incident and missing item report have prompted police to re-examine the wreckage, though the fire’s intensity complicates recovery efforts. A final report, expected in days, will be submitted to a court in Puebla de Sanabria.
The football world has rallied around Jota’s memory, with tributes from Liverpool’s Anfield to Portugal’s national team. Fans laid flowers at Anfield, and a minute’s silence was observed at the UEFA Women’s Euros match between Portugal and Spain. Liverpool manager Arne Slot called Jota a “friend to everyone,” while Cristiano Ronaldo and Jürgen Klopp expressed their devastation. Jota’s legacy—65 goals, a Premier League title, and an infectious joy—endures, but for Rute, the personal losses are profound.
Conclusion: A Grief Beyond Words
The exclusive footage of Rute Cardoso collapsing after finding an item in Jota’s jacket captures the raw pain of a widow grappling with an unfathomable loss. Combined with the surviving keepsake, the missing item, the mysterious detour, and her premonitory dream, this incident deepens the tragedy’s emotional and investigative complexity. As police seek answers about the crash, Rute’s actions—checking the jacket, filing a report—reflect her need to preserve every fragment of Jota’s memory. For Rute and their children, the items from the wreckage, whether found or lost, are treasures of a life cut short, echoing Jota’s final words: “A day we will never forget.” The football world mourns a star, but Rute mourns her soulmate, forever tied to him through love and loss.