Spanish Soccer Player Jesús de Miguel Dies After On-Field Collision

CD Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel has died at the age of 30 following a severe on-field collision during a Spanish second-division match against FC Andorra. The incident occurred during stoppage time on Monday at Tenerife's Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, as the two teams were tied 2-2.

The collision took place near the halfway line when Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono rushed far out of his goal to clear a long ball. Owono collided heavily with de Miguel at high speed, appearing to strike the forward with his knee around the chest and head. De Miguel collapsed and lay motionless on the pitch, prompting immediate medical intervention and visible distress from players on both teams.

The referee issued a straight red card to Owono and abandoned the match. Medical personnel treated de Miguel on the field before he was transported by ambulance to the University Hospital of Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. According to Spanish media reports, the player suffered a cardiac arrest in the ambulance and was resuscitated by paramedics before arriving at the hospital.

Initially reported as stable despite the severity of his condition, de Miguel's health declined overnight. On Tuesday morning, CD Tenerife released a statement confirming that his neurological condition had deteriorated and that he had passed away at 07:00 GMT.

In an official statement, the club expressed profound grief, saying they were "heartbroken, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe this is true." The club added that there were no words of comfort to lessen the overwhelming sadness and asked for privacy for his grieving family, including his young daughter born in 2025.

FC Andorra also issued a statement offering condolences, with co-owner and former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique writing on social media that he was sorry with all his soul. Tributes poured in from across the soccer world, including messages from Real Madrid, La Liga President Javier Tebas, and various Spanish clubs where de Miguel had previously played during his career in the lower leagues and second division.

Following the tragedy, the Royal Spanish Football Federation announced the postponement of scheduled fixtures, including Copa del Rey matches, out of respect for the player. De Miguel joined Tenerife in 2025 after notable spells with clubs such as Castellón, where he helped secure promotion.