Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel has died at the age of 30 after suffering a serious injury during a Spanish second-division match. The forward sustained head and chest injuries during a game against FC Andorra on Monday following a heavy collision with goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who received a red card for the challenge.
Tragic Turn of Events and Investigation
De Miguel’s condition was initially reported as stable but serious on Monday, but his health deteriorated on Tuesday morning, resulting in his death at 07:00 GMT. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Spanish police have opened an investigation into potential involuntary manslaughter following the incident, as any non-natural death automatically triggers a judicial inquiry under Spanish law.
The incident occurred seven minutes into stoppage time while Tenerife and Andorra were tied 2-2. Owono rushed toward the centre circle to clear a long ball when his knee appeared to strike De Miguel. The striker lay motionless on the pitch while medical staff provided treatment before an ambulance transported him from Tenerife’s Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez to a hospital. Spanish media outlets, including Marca, reported that De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest in the ambulance and paramedics resuscitated him on the way.
The referee showed Owono a straight red card and abandoned the match. Following the incident, Owono deactivated his Instagram account, where he had over 30,000 followers on Tuesday morning. In response to the tragedy, the Spanish football federation announced that Tuesday’s Spanish Cup fixtures, including two men’s Copa del Rey matches and a women’s Copa del Reina game between Espanyol and AS Celtas, had been postponed.
Reactions and Tributes
Tenerife expressed profound grief in a statement, describing the club as heartbroken and unable to believe the reality of the situation, adding that they stand with the player’s grieving family and loved ones. Tenerife’s president, Felipe Minambres, stated that the club’s players will require professional assistance to cope with the ordeal, noting that everyone feels vulnerable and deeply saddened. Andorra also released a statement sharing in the pain of the tragedy and offering psychological support to their own players, coaching staff, and anyone affected.
Tributes poured in from across the football world. Gerard Pique, co-owner of Andorra and a former Barcelona defender, expressed his sorrow on social media, while De Miguel’s former club Castellon offered condolences to his loved ones. La Liga president Javier Tebas noted that the entire football community shares the terrible pain of an irreparable loss. High-profile players also shared their grief, with Real Madrid and France striker Kylian Mbappe writing that there are no words, and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi extending condolences and strength to the player’s family and friends.
Career and Background
Born in Madrid, De Miguel began his senior career at Leganes in 2015 and played for eight different clubs throughout Spain. His career included stints with Lugo, Fuenlabrada, Internacional Madrid, Union Adarve, Navalcarnero, and Unionistas. He signed with Castellon in 2023, netting 16 goals to help the club secure promotion to Spain’s second division a year later. He then moved to Tenerife in 2025 on a three-year contract, scoring 11 goals in 29 appearances for the team. De Miguel is survived by his daughter, Carla de Miguel Fernandez, who was born in 2025.
