Diogo Jota's widow was a wife for just two weeks

Liverpool star Diogo Jota's death at just 28 has heartbreakingly left his wife a widow afetr just two weeks of marriage.

Rute Cardoso, 28, who is the mother of his three children, is the beloved Portuguese athlete's high school sweetheart and has been by his side for 13 years, well before his thriving career kicked off.

Jota recently described himself as the luckiest man in the world - following their nuptials in his hometown, Porto, last month.

Rute's social media account, which has some 55,900 followers, documented the young family's many exciting travels and evolution from fresh-faced youngsters to beautiful parents to a son Dinis, four, Duare, two, and a daughter, 8 months, whose name has not been revealed.

Diogo's devastating passing comes after his Lamborghini careered off a road in northern Spain, as the forward was travelling in the supercar with his fellow footballer brother Andre, 25, who also died in the crash.

The tyre is believed to have blown out while overtaking on the A-52 around 70 miles west of the historic city of Valladolid. The car came off the road, crashed and then burst into flames in the early hours of this morning.

Rute and Diogo posted on social media just 20 hours earlier, Rute beaming as a bride in a 'day they will never forget', gushing it was a 'dream come true'. Five days ago, the couple also shared snaps from the ceremony, writing: 'Yes to forever.'

Elsewhere, images from her social media profile show the kids cuddling up to their dad on the football pitch, happy couple selfies and sweet images of their three beagles.

Rute is also fond of documenting the family's many travels. In March, they ventured to Lapland, Finland.

The family grinned as they wrapped up warm to brave the crunchy snow, and huddled around a campfire. 

The pair have also shared their pregnancy reveals with the world on Rute's Instagram.

The mother-of-three's social media goes back as far 2013 - when both would have been about 16 - showing the baby faced teenagers posing for photos together.

Ever supportive, Rute was making appearances at his football games when Diogo was making his start in local clubs. The pair also went to their leavers' prom together.

In 2016, Rute, aged 19, spoke to local press about the couple moving to Spain together. 

'I'm anxious,' she admitted. 'Diogo only left this week, but I already miss him. On the other hand, it's going to be complicated, because I have two very young nephews and it's going to be hard to be away from them.

'We've been dating for four years and, with his life, it makes sense to follow him. In addition to being his girlfriend and best friend, I'm his number one fan, I want to be there.'

She recalled how they got to know each other after meeting in the same class. 

'He was diligent on the one hand, and disinterested on the other. He managed to get good grades, but without studying much,' she recalled. 

It seems Diogo was always aware of his biggest cheerleader - in 2019, he in a post shared a snap of the couple together, on the football pitch. 

'From the beginning until the end,' he wrote. 'Thank you all for the amazing support this season. We did it together.'

In 2023, Rute made headlines after she had hit out at Premier League officials for 'rigging' a game between Liverpool and Tottenham. 

She was furious at referee Simon Hooper and the PGMOL for sending Diogo off for two yellow cards within the space of two minutes against Spurs, who won a controversial encounter 2-1 thanks to Joel Matip's own goal deep into stoppage time.

She was also irritated by the red card shown to Curtis Jones and the fact Liverpool were denied an obvious goal after Luis Diaz was adjudged to be offside.

Rute took to social media to call out Hooper and the PGMOL for their decision-making, which prompted an unprecedented statement from Liverpool and led to both VAR officials being axed from upcoming matches.

She shared a video of Diogo's first foul on Destiny Udogie with a clown emoji and the PGMOL's statement with the words 'rigged game' crossed out. 

Jota was equally supportive of his partner and paid a special tribute to her on the pitch during a game against West Ham in the Carabao Cup in September 2024. 

After scoring the first goal of the night, he stuck the pall under his shirt and sucked his thumb while celebrating. 

He later confirmed it was a tribute to Rute ahead of the birth of their third child.  

'My girlfriend is pregnant again and it's almost time,' he told LFCTV. 'I'm happy outside of the pitch because of that.

'For the third time, it's coming quick and fast! But I'm enjoying it, it's the most important.'

The fatal incident which saw Diogo lose his life occurred on the A-52 in the province of Zamora. The road in Spain is a key route taken by drivers leaving northern Portugal.

Emergency services in the Castilla and Leon region confirmed the crash and two fatalities at around 12.35am on Thursday morning.

'The 1-1-2 Castilla y León operations room received several calls reporting a vehicle accident at Km. 65 of the A-52, in the municipality of Cernadilla, Zamora. A car was reported to have been involved in an accident and the vehicle was on fire,' a statement read.

'1-1-2 notified the Zamora Traffic Police, the Zamora Provincial Council Fire Brigade, and the Sacyl Emergency Coordination Center (CCU) of this accident. 

'From there, a Medical Emergency Unit (UME) and the Primary Care Medical Staff (MAP) from the Mombuey Health Center were sent, who confirmed the death of two people on the scene'.

The Portuguese national football team have said they are 'devastated' by the death of Liverpool forward Diogo, adding that he 'was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person who was respected by all his teammates and opponents'.

His death was confirmed by Pedro Proenca,  head of the Portuguese Football Federation.

He said in a statement: 'The Portuguese Football Federation and all of Portuguese football are completely devastated by the deaths of Diogo Jota and André Silva, this morning, in Spain.

'Much more than an amazing player, with almost 50 internationalizations for the National A Team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with an infectious joy and a reference in the community itself.

'On my behalf, and on behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation, I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diogo and André Silva, as well as Liverpool FC and FC Penafiel, the clubs where, respectively, lined up the players.

'The Portuguese Football Federation has already asked UEFA for a minute's silence, this Thursday, before the match of our national team with Spain, in the women's European Championship.

'Lost to two champs. The disappearance of Diogo and Andre Silva represent irreparable losses for Portuguese football and we will do everything to, daily, honor their legacy.'

Jota starred for Liverpool as they won the Premier League title in May and also played for Portugal's national team and helped it win the Nations League last month.

His brother played with Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower divisions.

Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and won three major trophies with the Merseyside club - including the Premier League title last season.

The sporting world is in a state of shock and mourning, with tributes flooding in.