Tributes have flooded in for Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died on Tuesday from injuries sustained in an on-field collision.
The 30-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest during a clash with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono in a Spanish second-tier match on Monday. Following the incident, the game was abandoned and the player was rushed to the hospital. Although Tenerife later reported that he was stable, his condition declined in the early hours of Tuesday, leading to his death at 8 AM.
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Fans gathered outside Tenerife’s home ground, the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez, to pay their respects by laying flowers and lighting candles beneath a picture of the late player. A farewell service is set to be held on Saturday at the stadium, open to supporters.
The club has declared six days of official mourning, suspending all club activities, and players, staff, and officials are expected to attend his funeral.
A minute’s silence took place before each of Tuesday night’s Champions League matches and will also be observed before all other UEFA fixtures this week.
Barcelona‘s Raphinha, who scored twice in his team’s Champions League victory over Aston Villa, stated: “Today I don’t want to talk about football, I want to send a message to the family of Jesus – may he rest in peace.
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“From the club, I want to send a message of strength to the family.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his sorrow over the “heartbreaking” death in a press conference on Tuesday, stating: “To see a colleague lose his life in such a manner, it’s beyond any words that I can put today.” Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho described the incident as “very shocking for the world in general,” highlighting the impact on the football community.
Mourinho also voiced his concern for Owono, who received a straight red card after the collision and has since deactivated his Instagram account. He acknowledged the difficulty of the moment for the Andorra goalkeeper. Spanish police have initiated a “routine” investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter, as national law requires an investigation for any non-natural death.
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The Spanish Football Federation announced the postponement of matches in the Copa del Rey and Copa del Reina on Tuesday in memory of De Miguel. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones, as well as to Club Deportivo Tenerife and all its fans, whom we accompany in these moments of great sorrow,” the organization stated.
De Miguel made his professional debut in 2015 for Leganes B and played for multiple Spanish clubs before joining Tenerife from Castellon in 2025. After signing a three-year contract with Tenerife last summer, he was instrumental in the team’s promotion back to the Segunda Division, scoring 11 goals in 29 games.
