CONFIRMED: Diogo Jota’s Safe Deposit Box, Accessed 10 Days Before Crash, Found Empty Except for Cryptic Note: “If You’re Reading This, Tell Rute Not to Trust…”

In a dramatic escalation of the mystery surrounding the death of Liverpool and Portugal football star Diogo Jota, authorities have confirmed that a safe deposit box belonging to Jota, last accessed on June 23, 2025—10 days before his fatal car crash—was found empty except for a handwritten note. The note, discovered in a Porto bank on July 27, 2025, reads, “If you’re reading this, tell Rute not to trust…” with the sentence left incomplete. This chilling find, reported at 3:58 p.m. local time, joins a cascade of enigmatic clues—including a torn letter, USB drive, CCTV footage, voicemail, childhood pendant, wedding rings, drone footage, locked laptop file, anonymous envelope, and torn passport—that deepen the intrigue surrounding the July 3, 2025, crash that killed Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 25, on Spain’s A-52 motorway.

The Safe Deposit Box Discovery

Portuguese authorities, acting on information provided by Rute Cardoso’s legal team, accessed Jota’s safe deposit box at a bank in Porto on July 27, 2025. Records show Jota visited the box on June 23, the day after his wedding to Rute, suggesting he may have placed or removed items during a critical period. The box, expected to contain valuable documents or personal items, was found empty except for a small piece of paper bearing the handwritten message, “If you’re reading this, tell Rute not to trust…” The note, written in Jota’s handwriting, mirrors the shaky script of the torn letter found in his jacket, and its incomplete nature echoes the abruptly ended voicemail recovered from Rute’s phone.

The note’s cryptic warning has stunned investigators and Rute, 28, who was informed of the discovery shortly after. The absence of other contents in the box raises questions about what Jota may have removed or intended to protect, and the note’s message suggests he was concerned about Rute’s safety or trust in specific individuals or entities. Portuguese police have seized the note for forensic analysis, focusing on potential fingerprints, ink composition, or hidden markings, while coordinating with Spain’s Guardia Civil to integrate this find with other evidence.

Context of the Crash and Prior Discoveries

The crash occurred at 12:30 a.m. on July 3, 2025, when Jota’s green Lamborghini Huracan veered off the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, Zamora, flipped, and burst into flames after a suspected tire blowout. Jota and André, a Penafiel footballer, were driving from Porto to Santander, as Jota’s recent lung procedure prevented flying. Spanish police initially attributed the crash to speeding, but lorry drivers José Aleixo Duarte and Jose Azevedo reported “moderate” speed and poor road conditions.

The safe deposit box note adds to a series of unsettling clues:

Torn Letter (July 20): Rute found a letter in Jota’s jacket, dated June 30, 2025, stating, “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

USB Drive (July 26): One of Jota’s sons found a USB labeled “RJ-171” with an “Insurance – Audio Proof” file timestamped at 12:23 a.m.

CCTV Footage (July 27): Leaked video from a gas station 27 kilometers away showed Jota with an unidentified individual.

Voicemail (July 27): A recovered voicemail from Jota to Rute ended after “Don’t let them kn—”.

Pendant (July 27): A childhood locket in Jota’s hand held a photo of an unknown girl.

Wedding Rings (July 27): Two rings were found sewn into Jota’s shirt, despite Rute’s claim of one pair.

Drone Footage (July 27): A 17-second clip showed Jota mouthing words seconds before the crash.

Locked File “D17” (July 27): A file on Jota’s laptop, edited at 12:13 a.m., resists unlocking.

White Envelope (July 27): An anonymous envelope with a GPS screenshot showed a 9-minute stop at a no-signal tunnel from 12:04–12:13 a.m.

Torn Passport (July 27): Rute’s cousin found a passport with a burned name page and a stamp from a restricted zone in Portugal.

The note’s warning, “tell Rute not to trust…”, aligns closely with the voicemail’s “Don’t let them kn—”, suggesting Jota was urgently trying to protect Rute from an unspecified threat or deception.

Theories About the Safe Deposit Box Note

The incomplete note and empty box have sparked intense speculation:

Connection to the Voicemail and Letter? The note’s warning mirrors the voicemail’s “Don’t let them kn—” and the letter’s “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” suggesting Jota was addressing a consistent concern, possibly involving the unidentified individual from the CCTV footage or the passport’s restricted zone.

Who Was Not to Be Trusted? The incomplete sentence implies Jota was warning about specific people or entities—possibly related to his professional life, the restricted zone visit, or the second individual in the car. The “RJ-171” USB or “D17” file might contain details about this threat.

What Was Removed from the Box? Jota’s access on June 23 suggests he removed valuable items, possibly to protect them or to use them during the drive. The note may have been a failsafe, left in case the box was accessed after his death.

Link to the Tunnel Stop or Passport? The 9-minute tunnel stop (12:04–12:13 a.m.) and the restricted zone stamp on the passport could relate to the note’s warning. Jota may have been involved in or aware of sensitive activities, documented in the “D17” file or USB audio.

External Involvement? The anonymous envelope and now the safe deposit box note suggest someone with knowledge of Jota’s actions is guiding Rute or investigators. The burned passport name page and hidden rings indicate deliberate concealment, possibly tied to the note’s warning.

Investigation Updates

Portuguese and Spanish authorities are analyzing the note alongside other evidence, focusing on its handwriting, which matches the torn letter, and its timing, just 10 days before the crash. The empty box suggests Jota anticipated a need to secure or remove items, possibly linked to the “Insurance – Audio Proof” files or the restricted zone visit. Investigators are cross-referencing the note with the “D17” file’s 12:13 a.m. edit, the USB’s 12:23 a.m. audio, and the tunnel stop from 12:04–12:13 a.m., as well as the drone footage and CCTV individual.

The lorry drivers’ accounts and drone footage, showing steady driving, continue to challenge the speeding narrative, while the restricted zone stamp and tunnel stop suggest external factors. Forensic teams are examining the safe deposit box for traces of prior contents, and cybersecurity experts are intensifying efforts to unlock the “D17” file, which may hold answers to the note’s warning.

Rute Cardoso’s Response and Family’s Grief

Rute Cardoso, raising her three children—Dinis, Duarte, and eight-month-old Mafalda—is reportedly devastated by the note’s discovery, which echoes the voicemail’s warning and intensifies her emotional turmoil. The safe deposit box, accessed the day after their wedding, adds a personal dimension to the pendant’s unknown girl, the second wedding ring, and the burned passport. Rute is cooperating with authorities, providing access to Jota’s belongings, but remains silent, focusing on her children’s well-being. Her legal team is exploring connections between the note, the “D17” file, and the anonymous envelope’s sender.

Liverpool FC, where Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances, has retired his No. 20 shirt and continues to support Rute. The July 5 funeral in Gondomar, attended by teammates and global figures, remains a testament to Jota’s impact.

Public Reaction and Speculation

The safe deposit box note has sparked fervent discussion on platforms like X, with fans theorizing about who Jota distrusted—possibly linked to the restricted zone, the CCTV individual, or the “D17” file. Misinformation, including debunked crash videos, persists, but the note’s verified discovery has focused attention on credible evidence. Some posts suggest the note’s warning targets a specific group or individual tied to the tunnel stop or passport, while others link it to the anonymous envelope’s sender. The football community continues to honor Jota, urging respect for Rute’s privacy.

Key questions include:

Who was not to be trusted? The incomplete note suggests a specific threat or deception Jota wanted Rute to avoid, possibly linked to the voicemail or USB.

What was in the safe deposit box? The empty box implies Jota removed items, potentially related to the rings, passport, or “D17” file.

Does it connect to other clues? The note may tie to the tunnel stop, restricted zone, CCTV individual, pendant, or drone footage, forming a cohesive narrative.

Who is guiding the discoveries? The anonymous envelope and safe deposit box note suggest an unknown source is revealing Jota’s secrets.

A Legacy Shrouded in Secrets

Diogo Jota’s life, defined by triumphs like the 2025 UEFA Nations League and Liverpool’s Premier League title, ended tragically 11 days after his wedding. The safe deposit box note, warning Rute not to trust an unnamed entity, joins a web of clues—letter, USB, CCTV, voicemail, pendant, rings, drone footage, locked file, envelope, and passport—that suggest Jota was entangled in a complex situation. As Rute and investigators probe this latest discovery, Jota’s legacy as a footballer and family man endures, forever tied to the haunting echo of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”