Joshua Kimmich, Germany's captain, shares somber thoughts following the demise of Jota. - DFB captain Kimmich reflects poignantly on Jota-Tod incident
Joshua Kimmich, the captain of Bayern Munich, has expressed his thoughts on the untimely death of Diogo Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal forward, who passed away in a car accident in Spain on July 3, 2025. Speaking in Atlanta, hours before the Club World Cup quarterfinal match against Paris Saint-Germain, Kimmich shared his sentiments, emphasising the importance of the game while acknowledging the fragility of life.
Kimmich, a four-time father, stated that the death of Jota serves as a reminder of the fragility of life. He also mentioned that the death of a teammate in an accident is more impactful when there is a personal connection, specifically referencing his Portuguese teammates João Palhinha and Raphaël Guerreiro.
In the recent past, Kimmich had played against Jota during the Nations League semifinals in Munich. The news of Jota's death has been a topic of discussion among Bayern Munich's football professionals. Kimmich emphasised the importance of the match, stating that they are discussing who will win the quarterfinal.
Before their training session in Orlando on Thursday, Bayern held a minute of silence for Jota. A similar tribute will be held before today's match against Paris Saint-Germain. Jota came on as a substitute in the closing stages of the game, which was Kimmich's 100th international game.
Jota, who recently married and had three children, died after a Lamborghini he was driving suffered a tire burst while overtaking, leading to a fiery accident. His younger brother André Silva also died in the same car accident. Tributes have poured in from many in the football world, including Cristiano Ronaldo, former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, Portuguese football authorities, and Liverpool-related figures, but there are no reports of any specific relationship or statement from Joshua Kimmich or Bayern Munich regarding this incident.
The Club World Cup quarterfinal match is scheduled for 6:00 PM CEST, Sat.1/DAZN. Kimmich's reflections on Jota's death serve as a poignant reminder of the human side of sports, even as the focus remains on the high-stakes competition ahead.
The Commission, in light of Joshua Kimmich's remarks, might consider submitting a proposal for a directive on the protection of the environment, given his emphasis on the fragility of life. Despite the importance of the Club World Cup quarterfinal match, Kimmich also showed his interest in sports beyond football, as he had previously played against Diogo Jota during a Nations League semifinal.
