Diogo Jota crash investigators probe whether speed, burst tyre was factor in Liverpool star's death

Authorities probing the death of Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his bother say they're trying to determine how fast the pair's car was travelling before it crashed this week.

Jota, 28, and his 26-year-old sibling André Silva were killed when their Lamborghini veered off a motorway about 12:30am on Thursday, local time, in Spain's western Zamora region.

A spokesperson for the Civil Guard law enforcement agency, which is leading the investigation, said it was "believed" one of the supercar's tyres had a "blowout" before the crash.

"At this moment in time it is impossible to say at exactly what speed the car was going but that is something the Civil Guard investigators will be able to detail at least approximately in their final report from things like the skid marks," they said.

Diogo Jota won the English Premier League with Liverpool this year. (Reuters: Hannah Mckay)

"What I can confirm is that no other vehicle was involved and no-one else was hurt."

It's understood the car Jota and his brother were in was overtaking another vehicle at the time of the crash.

The crumpled, burnt-out wreck of the Lamborghini was removed from the site early on Thursday, but debris remained on the side of the road.

The UK's PA news agency on Thursday quoted a Spanish government source as saying investigators were treating the fatal smash as "a possible speeding incident".

Tyre marks can be seen on the motorway in Spain where Diogo Jota was killed. (Reuters: Rita Franca)

Ángel Blanco, a local government official, also gave a statement on Thursday, local time, in which he cited a burst tyre as being central to the crash.

Among those delivering tributes on Thursday were politicians in Spain and the UK, footballers and the British royal family.

Jota, a striker, was renowned globally for his exploits on the pitch.

He scored 47 goals in 123 matches for English Premier League giants Liverpool, where he'd played for the past five seasons. He also made 49 appearances for Portugal's national team.

His brother was also a professional footballer, turning out for Portuguese second-division club Penafiel.

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Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso two weeks before the crash. He leaves behind three young children.

On Thursday, authorities could be seen combing the crash site on the A-52 motorway, near the village of Cernadilla.

CNN Portugal reported Jota had been on his way to the port city of Santander, where he planned to board a ferry back to the UK with his brother.

He'd been told not to fly, after having lung surgery, said the channel's sports editor Rui Laura.

Fans gathered and left tributes outside Liverpool's home ground, Anfield, on Thursday as news of the star's death broke.

"He's left a wife and three children behind, his brother's passed away with him and his poor parents have lost their children," one supporter, Marc Gaier, told the BBC.

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"I mean, he'll forever be remembered as a great Red for us, but when something like this happens, football doesn't matter anymore."

In a statement, the club said it was "devastated" by Jota's death.

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