Jesús de Miguel, a 30-year-old striker for Spanish club Tenerife, died in hospital early Thursday morning, hours after suffering a violent collision with the opposing goalkeeper during a match the previous evening, Radio France reported.
The incident occurred late in Tenerife’s match against Andorra. De Miguel, sprinting on a counterattack in midfield, was struck in the air by the opposing goalkeeper, who went in knee-first. He collapsed clutching his chest and lost consciousness, and the match was stopped immediately. Despite rapid treatment from medical staff, his condition worsened through the night as his neurological state deteriorated, and he died at the hospital the following morning.
The club’s reaction
Tenerife responded with a statement expressing devastation. “Broken by grief, with a lump in our throat and unable to believe this is reality,” the club said in a message, according to Radio France’s report.
Tributes across Spanish football
Since the announcement of his death, tributes have poured in from across Spanish football. FC Barcelona offered its condolences in a message posted on X, while Real Madrid observed a minute of silence at training Thursday morning.
Spanish federation suspends matches
The Royal Spanish Football Federation also decided to suspend the fixtures scheduled for Thursday. Copa del Rey matches were postponed as a mark of mourning, the report said.
Video of the collision has circulated widely on social media since Wednesday evening, renewing debate about violence and player safety in the sport.
