Spanish Football Mourns the Tragic Death of Tenerife Striker Jesus de Miguel
Tributes poured in across Spain following the passing of Jesus de Miguel, who died from accidental chest trauma after a collision during a second division match.
Spanish football is in mourning following the tragic death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who passed away after suffering accidental chest trauma during a Spanish second division match. The fatal incident occurred on Monday, November 2, 2026, during a collision with Andorra FC goalkeeper Jesus Owono while the player attempted to clear the ball. De Miguel was rushed to the hospital following the challenge and tragically died the following morning.
The sports world reacted with profound grief to the tragedy. France manager Zinedine Zidane voiced his sorrow at a press conference, stating that the event left him deeply affected and shaken. "I feel profound sorrow for what happened," Zidane remarked, adding that he hopes never to witness such a tragedy on a football pitch again.
Goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who received a red card for the challenge, has been heavily impacted emotionally by the incident. According to reports from Mundo Deportivo and comments from close friend Ana Maye, the Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper is currently considering walking away from professional football. Owono has been receiving psychological support from his team and released an emotional social media statement expressing his overwhelming pain and offering his condolences to De Miguel's family.
Amid the emotional fallout, Maye disclosed that Owono and his family have unfortunately faced abuse following the match. She stated that some individuals have targeted his relatives online and in person, even directing insults and hostile remarks toward his brother.
De Miguel's funeral took place on Thursday, November 5, in his hometown of Navahermosa, located in the province of Toledo. Approximately 400 mourners, including family members, prominent figures in Spanish football, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, and Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente, attended the service to pay their final respects.
Across Spain, matches paused to honor the late number nine. Games featured a pre-match moment of silence and a stoppage in the ninth minute for a minute of applause. In Tenerife, fans and players gathered at the stadium for an emotional memorial and farewell, where Tenerife captain Enric Gallego delivered a heartfelt speech remembering his teammate.
In parallel action on the pitch over the weekend, Real Madrid secured a 3-0 victory over Valencia at Mestalla stadium. Goals from Federico Valverde, Arda Guler, and Kylian Mbappe propelled Real Madrid level with La Liga leaders Barcelona, while Spanish football continued to honor the memory of De Miguel.