OBITUARY
Ronaldo, FIFA president, others react to death of Liverpool and Portugal player Diogo Jota
Following are quotes and reactions to the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain on Thursday:
LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB
“Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota.
“The club have been informed that the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre.
“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and requests the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.
“We will continue to provide them with our full support.”
FORMER LIVERPOOL MANAGER JUERGEN KLOPP
“This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can’t see it! I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother, Andre.
“Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!”
PORTUGAL PRIME MINISTER LUIS MONTENEGRO
“The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honoured Portugal’s name, and his brother is unexpected and tragic. I extend my deepest condolences to their family. It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports.”
PORTUGAL AND AL-NASSR PLAYER CRISTIANO RONALDO
“It doesn’t make sense. We were together just recently in the national team, and you just got married.
“To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you’ll always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We’ll all miss you.”
MANCHESTER UNITED AND PORTUGAL PLAYER BRUNO FERNANDES
“There are no words of consolation for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field.
“I send all my strength to his family, from wherever he is, I am sure he will always be with you, especially to his wife and his three children.”
LA LAKERS PLAYER AND LIVERPOOL MINORITY OWNER LEBRON JAMES
“My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA JOTA!!”
FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO
“Aged 28, Diogo has enjoyed a fantastic career to date and had many great years ahead of him, while his brother Andre was thriving at FC Penafiel – they will both be so sorely missed by all those who knew them and by the worldwide football community.”
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER
“There are millions of Liverpool fans, but also football fans, non-fans, who will also be shocked by this.
“It is devastating, and it is really important we bear in mind just how difficult a period this will be for his friends, for his family.”
PORTUGUESE FOOTBALL FEDERATION PRESIDENT PEDRO PROENCA
“Portuguese football is devastated. The Portuguese federation, this generation of players are mourning. Diogo was what we all want to be, was a reference for Portuguese football, was a talent of his generation…”
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
“We are heartbroken. Diogo was adored by our fans, loved by his teammates and cherished by everyone who worked with him during his time at Wolves. The memories he created will never be forgotten.”
LIVERPOOL GREAT KENNY DALGLISH
“Football is not important at this sad time. You feel helpless, knowing there’s so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children.
“Thinking and praying for all their loved ones after the devastating loss of both Diogo and Andre.”
PORTUGAL PLAYER RUBEN NEVES
“They say that we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you.”
LIVERPOOL PLAYER DARWIN NUNEZ
“There are no words of consolation for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field.
“I send all my strength to his family, from wherever he is I am sure he will always be with you, especially to his wife and his three children.”
UEFA PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER CEFERIN
“Just three weeks ago, I had the honour of presenting Diogo Jota with a medal after the UEFA Nations League final – a moment of joy, pride, and celebration that will now forever be burned in memory with sorrow.
“His passion, energy and spirit on the field inspired everyone around him. It is devastating to think that a life so full of joy and potential has been taken far too soon. Rest in peace, dear Diogo. You will not be forgotten.”
PENAFIEL FC, ANDRE SILVA’S CLUB
“The loss of two young lives linked to the world of football fills us with pain and consternation.
“At this difficult time, Futebol Clube Penafiel extends its most sincere condolences to the family, friends and all those who shared moments of life and passion for sport with Andre and Diogo.
“The club will declare official mourning and will pay tribute at its upcoming sporting events. Rest in peace.”
-Reuters
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Ted Turner, the pioneering media mogul who transformed television and sports broadcasting, has died at the age of 87, his family announced Wednesday.
Turner founded CNN in 1980, creating the world’s first 24-hour news network, and later launched TBS and TNT, which became staples for sports fans. He purchased the Atlanta Braves in 1976, helping turn them into “America’s Team” and guiding the franchise to its 1995 World Series championship. Turner Field, built in 1996, remains a landmark of his influence on Atlanta sports.
As owner of the Braves from 1976, Turner transformed the struggling franchise into a nationally recognised team through nationwide cable broadcasts on TBS, branding them “America’s Team.” Under his leadership, the Braves won the 1995 World Series title and moved into Turner Field ahead of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
In a tribute, the Braves described Turner as “a brilliant businessman, consummate showman and passionate fan,” crediting him for helping shape the club’s modern identity.
Turner also left a major imprint on basketball and professional wrestling. He owned the Atlanta Hawks for over two decades and helped expand the reach of the NBA through TNT broadcasts. He also built World Championship Wrestling into the biggest rival ever faced by Vince McMahon’s WWF.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred hailed Turner as “a visionary whose impact on the media landscape transformed how fans experience sports,” while NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised his role in growing the league’s global audience.
Beyond media and sports ownership, Turner was an accomplished sailor who won the 1977 America’s Cup and later earned induction into the America’s Cup Hall of Fame and the National Sailing Hall of Fame.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in sports media history, Turner’s innovations reshaped how live sports and news are consumed around the world.
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The Nigerian football community has again been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of former Super Eagles forward Michael Eneramo, who collapsed during a friendly match in Kaduna on Friday morning.
Eneramo, 40, reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest just five minutes into the second half of the game in Ungwan Yelwa, after featuring throughout the first half. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Reacting to the tragic incident, Mohammed Sanusi, the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, expressed shock and grief.
“This is devastating. I am short of words at this moment. I can only pray that God will grant him eternal rest and also grant his loved ones and the Nigerian football family the fortitude to bear the loss,” Sanusi said.
Born on November 26, 1985, in Kaduna, Eneramo carved out a respected career both at home and abroad. He began with Lobi Stars before moving to North Africa, where he became a fan favourite at Espérance Sportive de Tunis.
Nicknamed “Al Dababa” (The Tank) for his powerful playing style, Eneramo’s exploits in Tunisia earned him widespread admiration, helping Espérance to multiple honours. His career also took him through Algeria with USM Alger and later to Turkey, where he featured for clubs including Beşiktaş, Sivasspor and İstanbul Başakşehir.
Service to the Super Eagles
Eneramo earned 10 caps for the Nigerian national team, choosing to represent his country despite overtures to switch allegiance to Tunisia. He even scored against Tunisia in a 2-2 draw World Cup qualifier in 2009.
He made his debut in a goalless friendly against Jamaica in London in February 2009, before scoring his first international goal against the Republic of Ireland later that year.
One of his most memorable moments came in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Tunisia in Abuja, where he scored in a dramatic 2-2 draw.
Another Painful Season of Loss
Eneramo’s passing adds to a growing list of recent losses in Nigerian football, deepening a period of reflection and grief within the sport.
In recent times, the nation has also bid farewell to respected figures such as coaching legend Adegboye Onigbinde, former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu, and football administrator Ibrahim Galadima.
Together, these departures represent the loss of experience, history and institutional memory across different generations of Nigerian football.
Eneramo will be remembered as a strong, determined striker who made his mark in Africa and Europe, and as a player who remained committed to Nigeria at a crucial point in his career.
His sudden death, on the very field where he once found joy and purpose, underscores both the fragility of life and the enduring bond between footballers and the game they love.
As tributes continue to pour in, Nigerian football reflects not only on a life cut short, but on a legacy defined by resilience, loyalty and passion.
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The President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former Nigeria Football Federation chief, Ibrahim Galadima.
In a condolence message issued on behalf of CAF and its 54 Member Associations, Dr Motsepe extended heartfelt sympathies to the Nigeria Football Federation, its current president Ibrahim Musa Gusau, the Galadima family, and the people of Nigeria.
Motsepe described Galadima’s death as a significant loss to Nigerian and African football, acknowledging his contributions to the development of the game during his tenure.
Galadima served as President of the NFF from 2002 to 2006, a period marked by key administrative and footballing developments in the country.
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