The global football community is in mourning following the tragic death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel. The forward passed away at 07:00 GMT on Tuesday after suffering severe head and chest injuries during a Spanish second division match against FC Andorra.
Fatal Collision and Investigation
The incident occurred seven minutes into stoppage time when Tenerife and Andorra were tied 2-2. Goalkeeper Jesus Owono rushed towards the centre circle to clear a long ball and his knee appeared to collide with De Miguel. The striker lay motionless on the pitch and received medical treatment before being taken by ambulance to a hospital. Players from both sides were visibly distressed, and several of De Miguel’s team-mates were in tears. The referee showed Owono a straight red card before abandoning the match, and the goalkeeper has since deactivated his Instagram account.
Reuters reported that Spanish police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter. Under local law, any non-natural death automatically triggers a judicial inquiry, though Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui told news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were “very unlikely”.
Tributes and Memorials
A moment of silence was observed before Tuesday evening’s Champions League matches across Europe, and the tribute will be repeated for Wednesday fixtures, as well as Europa League and Conference League games this week. Mourners gathered at Tenerife’s home ground, the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez, leaving flowers and candles beneath a black and white image of the player.
Tenerife announced six official days of mourning with all club activities suspended. Players, staff, and officials will attend De Miguel’s funeral in Navahermosa, Toledo, and the club will open their stadium on Saturday evening for supporters to bid a farewell. In a statement reported by BBC Sport, De Miguel’s family thanked well-wishers for their support and requested privacy.
Fran Leon, president of Tenerife’s supporters’ clubs federation, told BBC Sport that the entire island and Canarias shared the pain of the loss. Fan David Tejera stated that De Miguel’s effort and passion would endure in the club’s history.
Football figures and global sports stars shared their grief. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho called the incident shocking and noted it is a very difficult moment for Owono. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta described the event as heartbreaking, while Barcelona forward Raphinha dedicated messages to the family after scoring against Aston Villa.
Icons from across sports, including Lionel Messi, Rafael Nadal, Cristiano Ronaldo, and former Barcelona defender and Andorra co-owner Gerard Pique, posted tributes on social media. De Miguel’s team-mates Juanjo Sanchez, Enric Gallego, and Fran Sabina also shared emotional statements remembering his character, friendship, and dedication.
De Miguel joined Tenerife in the summer of 2025 from Castellon, having previously played for Leganes at youth level, Unionistas de Salamanca, and helping his former club gain promotion to the second division.
