Early Life
Born on November 6, 1995, and passing away on July 3, 2025, André Miguel Valente da Silva was a Portuguese professional football player with exceptional skill who played as a striker. One of Portugal’s most exceptional attackers of his period, André Silva was renowned for his clinical finishing, tactical awareness, and quickness.
He played for FC Porto, AC Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, and RB Leipzig, among other elite European teams. Additionally, he played for Portugal in the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship, making more than 50 appearances for the national team.
Tragically, Silva and his brother, Liverpool player Diogo Jota, died in a vehicle accident in Spain in July 2025.
André Silva was up in a football-loving family in Portugal’s Porto District. He joined local teams like Salgueiros and Boavista at an early age, showcasing remarkable skill on the field, and in 2011 he was signed by FC Porto’s development academy.
Early Football Careers
Youth Team:
- Salgueiros
- The Boavista
- Padroense
- Porto FC
André advanced swiftly through FC Porto’s ranks, displaying both his technical skill and goal-scoring instincts. He got his first appearance with the main team in 2015 after his outstanding youth play won him a berth on Porto B.
Timeline for Club Careers
FC Porto from 2015 to 2017
With Porto, Silva rose to prominence in Portugal’s Primeira Liga. He posed a serious threat in the box because of his physicality and deft footwork.
41 appearances
Goals scored: 17
AC Milan from 2017 until 2020
André joined AC Milan, one of the most prominent football teams in Italy, in 2017. Despite having a difficult time in Serie A, he made significant contributions in the UEFA Europa League.
€38 million is the transfer fee.
25 appearances
Goals scored: 2
Sevilla (Loan: 2018–2019)
Silva’s form improved after joining Sevilla FC on loan. On his La Liga debut, he became the first player from Sevilla to score a hat-trick since Romário.
27 appearances
Goals scored: 9
Frankfurt Eintracht (2019–2021)
He was permanently signed by Frankfurt following a good loan season. In the 2020–21 season, Silva broke club records with 28 goals in the Bundesliga, placing second in the Golden Boot competition behind Robert Lewandowski.
Loan: 12 goals in 25 games (2019–2020)
Permanent: 28 goals in the Bundesliga (2020–2021)
RB Leipzig from 2021 to 2025
Silva was purchased by RB Leipzig in July 2021 with the expectation that he will lead the starting lineup in the Bundesliga and Champions League. Later, he had short stints on loan at Werder Bremen and Real Sociedad.
Transfer Charge: €23 million
72 appearances
Goals scored: 16
Portugal National Team International Career
Youth Groups:
- Represented Portugal in the U16 and U21 competitions.
- Participated in UEFA Youth Championships as a star.
Senior Making Their Debut:
Date: 1. September 2016
53 total caps.
Goals scored: 19
Principal Competitions:
- 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup.
- EUFA Euro 2020.
- 2019 UEFA Nations League Winner.
Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, and Bruno Fernandes, André Silva was a vital player of the Portuguese football team during its heyday.
Faith
André Silva grew up in a conventional Portuguese Roman Catholic family and was a Christian. Despite not being overtly religious, sources attest that he was a Christian, which is in line with the religious and cultural norms of his childhood.
In his personal life, he kept a quiet profile, letting his football career do the talking.
Death
In a tragic accident that occurred on June 3, 2025, at Cernadilla, Zamora, Spain, André Silva and his brother Diogo Jota lost control of their Lamborghini due to a tire rupture, and the vehicle crashed on the highway. No further vehicles were involved, according to Spanish police.
The world of football was stunned by the incident. The Portuguese FA, Liverpool FC, FC Porto, RB Leipzig, and supporters from all around the world all sent in tributes. Half-mast flags were flown in stadiums throughout Europe.
