A bombshell forensic breakthrough has upended the investigation into Diogo Jota’s tragic death, with DNA from a single hair found in the Liverpool star’s gym bag linking to a 20-year-old Portuguese woman unknown to his family. The revelation, confirmed by Spanish authorities, has prompted Rute Cardoso and Jota’s relatives to demand a second autopsy, questioning if foul play or hidden affairs played a role in the July 3, 2025, crash. In a mind-blowing twist that has left experts reeling, the woman—identified as Maria Alves—claims she met Jota secretly weeks before his wedding, handing him the engraved “Eternal Love, M & A” ring as a “family heirloom” from his late grandmother, potentially explaining the cryptic artifact and suggesting Jota was safeguarding a long-lost inheritance that may have distracted him during the fatal drive.

The Startling DNA Match

The hair was discovered during a routine inventory of Jota’s belongings recovered from the crash site, including his gym bag, which survived the Lamborghini’s fiery wreckage relatively intact. Forensic tests, accelerated at the family’s insistence, matched the DNA to Maria Alves, a Lisbon-based student with no prior public connection to Jota. Alves, contacted by investigators, cooperated fully, stating she encountered Jota at a charity event in Porto in May 2025, where she revealed herself as a distant cousin through his maternal line.

This link has ignited calls for a re-examination of Jota’s body, with the family citing “unresolved anomalies” like the tire blowout and the unexplained shadow in the highway video. Cardoso’s legal team filed the request on August 5, 2025, arguing the new evidence could indicate external influences or overlooked injuries.

Maria Alves’ Explosive Claim

In her statement to police, leaked to media outlets, Alves described a clandestine meeting where Jota, intrigued by her family tree research, accepted the ring—allegedly his grandmother’s lost wedding band, engraved “Eternal Love, M & A” for her initials (Maria and António). “He was emotional, said it was a ‘promise to keep’ for his new family,” Alves recounted. This aligns eerily with Jota’s anesthesia murmur (“a hidden promise in gold”), his final voice message, and the note on the hidden ultrasound for their fourth child.

Speculation runs rampant: Was Jota rushing to verify the ring’s authenticity, contributing to the crash? Or does it tie into the time capsule unearthed by the family Beagles, which mentioned “grandma’s gold”? Alves denies any romantic involvement, but her DNA presence has fueled tabloid theories of a secret affair, despite her insistence it was a one-time familial exchange.

Family’s Anguish and Demands

Rute Cardoso, already navigating her fourth pregnancy announcement amid grief, expressed “shock and confusion” in a brief statement. “This changes everything—we need answers for Diogo, André, and our children.” The demand for a second autopsy, supported by Dr. Miguel Santos (Jota’s physician who confessed his travel advice role), aims to re-test for toxins or injuries missed initially.

Liverpool FC issued support, with Arne Slot noting, “We’re with the family in seeking truth.” Fans on X debate the implications, linking it to ongoing tributes like murals and the 20th-minute applauses.

Rewriting the Tragedy?

As Spanish authorities consider the autopsy request, Alves’ story could unravel more secrets, from the ring’s origins to Jota’s final intentions. This DNA twist, blending inheritance intrigue with tragedy, ensures Jota’s legacy evolves from celebrated athlete to a narrative of hidden depths. For Cardoso and the family, it’s a quest for closure amid escalating mysteries, reminding the world that even in death, Diogo Jota’s story holds unforeseen chapters.