The soccer star had reportedly opted to take the longer route because he’d been advised by doctors not to get on a plane while recovering from a lung-related surgery.

Jota, the Liverpool forward who in May celebrated winning the Premier League title, has died. He was 28. Police said Jota died along with his brother Andre Silva, also a soccer player, in a car accident near the northwestern city of Zamora, Spain.

Liverpool FC player Diogo Jota and his brother died early Thursday in Spain after the Lamborghini they were traveling in crashed near the western city of Zamora, leaving the car in flames, police said.