Diogo Jota’s Final Hours: The Mysterious €47,000 Cash Withdrawal and Encrypted Message

On the morning of July 2, 2025, Diogo Jota, the celebrated Liverpool and Portugal forward, was captured on CCTV footage withdrawing exactly €47,000 in cash from a bank in Porto, Portugal. The footage, which has since surfaced online, shows the 28-year-old footballer placing an object wrapped in cloth into the glove compartment of his acid green Lamborghini Huracan before driving off. Adding to the enigma, five minutes before his phone went dark, Jota sent a 27-second audio message to a woman unknown to his family or teammates—a file that remains encrypted and unopened. Less than 24 hours after the withdrawal, Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, perished in a tragic car accident on the A-52 motorway in Zamora, Spain. The cash, the cloth-wrapped object, and the mysterious audio message have deepened the intrigue surrounding this heartbreaking story. This article explores the events leading up to the crash, the significance of the €47,000 withdrawal, the encrypted message, and the questions that linger.

A Rising Star’s Untimely End

Diogo Jota was a household name in the football world, known for his tenacity, skill, and infectious smile. Born in Porto in 1996, he rose through the ranks of Portuguese football, debuting with Paços de Ferreira before playing for Atletico Madrid, Porto, and Wolverhampton Wanderers. In 2020, he joined Liverpool FC for £41 million, becoming a fan favorite with 65 goals in 182 appearances and contributing to the Premier League title, FA Cup, and two EFL Cups. Jota also earned 49 caps for Portugal, helping secure UEFA Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025. His brother, André Silva, 25, was a professional footballer for Penafiel in Portugal’s second division, forging his own path.

The brothers’ lives ended tragically on July 3, 2025, when their Lamborghini Huracan veered off the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla, Zamora, and burst into flames. A suspected tyre blowout during an overtaking maneuver caused the car to roll and ignite, killing both occupants, according to Spanish authorities. The crash, occurring just 11 days after Jota’s wedding to Rute Cardoso, stunned the football community. Tributes poured in from figures like Cristiano Ronaldo, Jürgen Klopp, and Prince William.

The €47,000 Withdrawal: A Curious Detail

The €47,000 cash withdrawal has captivated public attention. Portuguese media, supported by CCTV footage, reported Jota visiting a Porto bank on July 2, 2025, to withdraw the exact sum. The footage shows him completing the transaction and placing a cloth-wrapped object—speculated to be the cash or another item—into the glove compartment of his Lamborghini. The specific amount has sparked questions about its purpose. Was it for a purchase, a debt, or something else? Jota and André were traveling to Santander to catch a ferry to the UK, reportedly due to medical advice against flying after Jota’s lung surgery. The cash’s role in this journey remains unclear.

The Encrypted Audio Message: A New Mystery

Adding to the enigma, investigators revealed that five minutes before Jota’s phone went offline—presumably at the time of the crash—he sent a 27-second audio message to a woman unknown to his family, teammates, or wife. The recipient’s identity has not been disclosed, and the file is encrypted, rendering it inaccessible to authorities and fueling speculation. Was the message a farewell, a warning, or something mundane? The woman’s lack of connection to Jota’s inner circle has raised questions about her role in his life. Online discussions, particularly on platforms like X, have theorized about everything from a secret associate to a possible misunderstanding, but no verified details have emerged. The encrypted file, likely stored on Jota’s phone, was destroyed in the crash, leaving little hope of accessing its contents without a decryption key.

Conflicting Accounts of the Crash

The crash’s cause is still under investigation, with conflicting reports adding complexity. The Guardia Civil in Zamora suggested Jota was driving, possibly speeding, based on 100-meter tyre marks. They noted the Lamborghini likely exceeded the 120 km/h (74 mph) limit when a tyre blowout triggered the accident. However, lorry drivers José Aleixo Duarte and José Azevedo, who witnessed the crash, claimed the car was moving at a “moderate speed” and blamed the A-52’s poor condition—dark, poorly maintained, and accident-prone. Azevedo, who filmed the wreckage, said rescue efforts were futile. The motorway’s history of nearly 15,000 speeding fines in 2020 has intensified scrutiny, with experts like Javier Lopez Delgado citing speed and road faults as possible factors. The investigation, pending review by a court in Puebla de Sanabria, may clarify these discrepancies.

The Cloth-Wrapped Object: What Was It?

The CCTV footage of Jota placing a cloth-wrapped object in the glove compartment remains a focal point. While some assume it was the €47,000, the object’s size and shape are unclear in the grainy footage. The car’s destruction complicates recovery efforts, leaving its contents speculative. Theories range from the cash being for a transaction in Santander to more sensational claims of illicit dealings, though no evidence supports the latter. Jota’s £140,000 weekly earnings and recent wedding to Rute Cardoso, with whom he shared three children—Dinis, Duarte, and an infant daughter—suggest financial stability, making the withdrawal’s purpose even more puzzling.

Tributes and Legacy

The football world has mourned Jota and André deeply. Liverpool FC expressed devastation, and fans left tributes at Anfield, including a placard reading “Diogo lives forever.” A minute’s silence was held at the UEFA Women’s Euros, with condolences from LeBron James and Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. Liverpool may retire Jota’s number 20 shirt, a testament to his impact. The brothers’ funeral in Gondomar on July 5, 2025, drew hundreds, including Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson. Conor Coady called Jota “an amazing husband, father, and footballer,” while Arne Slot vowed to honor his legacy.

Unanswered Questions

The €47,000 withdrawal, the cloth-wrapped object, and the encrypted audio message form a web of mysteries. Was the cash linked to the journey or the unknown woman? What did the 27-second message contain, and why was it encrypted? The absence of answers has fueled misinformation, with debunked videos claiming to show the crash circulating online, as noted by Full Fact. As the investigation continues, Diogo Jota’s death, alongside André Silva’s, remains a profound loss. The mysteries surrounding his final hours may never be resolved, but his legacy as a player, husband, father, and brother endures, cherished by those he inspired.