On a Monday night in the Canary Islands, in the final moments of a match that had already been tied, a long ball and a split-second collision ended the life of a thirty-year-old striker who had traveled a long road through Spanish football. Death, which arrives so suddenly on a field built for joy, now passes into the slow and formal hands of a judicial inquiry, as it must. Around him, teammates, rivals and strangers across the game have been left with the same hard truth: that a game can take what it should never take, and that the people who love him, and the ones who shared his work, now ha
Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel dies aged 30 after on-field collision with goalkeeper
Thirty-year-old striker Jesus de Miguel died after a collision during a match, leaving a daughter, Carla, born in 2025, and grieving teammates and family.
The striker lay motionless on the pitch.
Mark
Why has a police investigation opened so quickly? It sounds like someone is already being accused.
Mimi
Not necessarily. Spanish law automatically triggers a judicial inquiry for any death deemed non-natural, so the process starts by default. The possible charge reported is involuntary manslaughter.
Luke
And that charge comes from Reuters' reporting. What the investigation will find, or whether anyone will be charged, is simply unknown right now.
Mark
What do we actually know about the collision?
Mimi
Owono ran out to clear a long ball and his knee appeared to hit De Miguel. He was sent off with a straight red and the match was abandoned.
Luke
Note the word appeared. The reporting describes how it looked, not a finding about intent or cause. The red card was a referee's call in the moment.
Mark
What about the cardiac arrest?
Mimi
Marca and other Spanish media reported he arrested in the ambulance and was resuscitated. It adds to the picture of how serious things were.
Luke
That one is media-attributed, not confirmed by the club or an official statement in this reporting. His cause of death hasn't been stated either.
Mark
How are the clubs responding?
Mimi
Tenerife's president said players and partners will need professional help, and Andorra is giving psychological support to its own people too. Both sides are shaken.
Il Polso
- In the seventh minute of stoppage time, a routine clearance turned into a collision that left Jesus de Miguel motionless on the pitch.
- The match was abandoned as players wept on the grass and the goalkeeper who had been involved received a straight red card.
- Police have opened a possible involuntary manslaughter inquiry, and the law now demands a judicial examination of every step.
- Hope gave way to grief at dawn on Tuesday, when his condition worsened and he died, leaving a young daughter behind.
- Clubs, leagues and the federation have postponed matches and offered psychological support while the questions remain open.
On a Monday night in the Canary Islands, in the final moments of a match that had already been tied, a long ball and a split-second collision ended the life of a thirty-year-old striker who had traveled a long road through Spanish football. Death, which arrives so suddenly on a field built for joy, now passes into the slow and formal hands of a judicial inquiry, as it must. Around him, teammates, rivals and strangers across the game have been left with the same hard truth: that a game can take what it should never take, and that the people who love him, and the ones who shared his work, now have to carry the weight of it.
Seven minutes into stoppage time at Tenerife's stadium on Monday, the score stood level at 2-2 against FC Andorra. A long ball was sent forward, and Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono raced out to clear it. His knee met Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, and the 30-year-old lay still on the pitch. Medical staff tended to him where he fell before an ambulance took him away. Teammates from both sides were in tears. The referee sent Owono off and abandoned the match.
De Miguel had suffered serious head and chest injuries. Reports said he had gone into cardiac arrest on the way to hospital and was revived by paramedics. On Monday his condition was described as stable but serious. On Tuesday morning it worsened, and he died at 07:00 GMT. Spanish police have opened a possible involuntary manslaughter investigation, as the law requires for any death judged non-natural.
Tenerife said it was heartbroken and unable to find words of comfort, pledging to stand with his family and everyone connected to the club. Its president spoke of an enormous tragedy and of players who would need professional help. Andorra expressed shock and offered its support, and its co-owner Gerard Pique wrote that he was sorry with all his soul. Tributes poured in from former club Castellon, from La Liga, and from players including Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. The federation postponed Tuesday's cup fixtures.
De Miguel had played for many clubs across Spain since beginning at Leganes in 2015, and had scored 16 goals as Castellon won promotion. He had only recently joined Tenerife. He leaves a daughter, Carla, born in 2025. The inquiry now begins, and both clubs are turning their attention to the people left behind.
Seven minutes into stoppage time at Tenerife's Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez on Monday, the score against FC Andorra stood at 2-2. A long ball was played forward, and Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono ran out toward the centre circle to clear it. His knee appeared to collide with Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel. The 30-year-old lay motionless on the pitch.
Medical staff treated him where he fell before he was taken by ambulance to hospital. Players from both sides were visibly distressed, and a number of De Miguel's team-mates were in tears. The referee showed Owono a straight red card and then abandoned the match. De Miguel had suffered head and chest injuries. Spanish media, including Marca, reported that he went into cardiac arrest in the ambulance and was resuscitated by paramedics on the way to hospital.
His condition was described on Monday as stable but serious. On Tuesday morning it worsened, and he died at 07:00 GMT. Reuters reported that police in Spain have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter. Under Spanish law, any death judged non-natural automatically triggers a judicial inquiry.
Tenerife said it was heartbroken, with a lump in its throat and unable to believe the news. The club said there were no words of comfort and that nothing could lessen the sadness, and it pledged to stand with his family, his loved ones and all of Tenerife. President Felipe Minambres called it a truly unbelievable situation and an enormous tragedy. He said everyone at the club felt vulnerable, and that players and their partners would need professional assistance. Offers of help had already begun arriving, he said, and he asked for the support of fans too, who were likely feeling the same way.
Andorra issued its own statement on Tuesday expressing shock and condolences to De Miguel's family, his club and all those close to him. It said it had been in contact with Tenerife from the start and was at the club's disposal. The statement spoke of a huge emotional impact on its players and coaching staff, and said the club was offering psychological support to anyone who needed it. Gerard Pique, the former Barcelona defender who co-owns Andorra, wrote that he was sorry with all his soul. Owono, who had more than 30,000 Instagram followers on Tuesday morning, has since deactivated his account.
Tributes came from across the game. Castellon, De Miguel's former club, spoke of how hard it is to find words when reality strikes so unfairly. La Liga president Javier Tebas described an irreparable loss. Kylian Mbappe wrote that there were no words, and Lionel Messi sent condolences and strength to his family and friends. The Spanish football federation postponed Tuesday's Spanish Cup fixtures: two first-round men's Copa del Rey ties, and Espanyol's women's Copa de la Reina match against AS Celtas.
De Miguel was born in Madrid and began his career at Leganes in 2015. He went on to play for eight clubs in Spain, among them Lugo, Fuenlabrada, Internacional Madrid, Union Adarve, Navalcarnero and Unionistas, returning to Fuenlabrada along the way. He joined Castellon in 2023 and scored 16 goals as they won promotion to the second division a year later. In 2025 he signed a three-year deal with Tenerife, scoring 11 goals in 29 appearances. He is survived by his daughter, Carla de Miguel Fernandez, born in 2025.
The judicial inquiry now begins, and both clubs are turning to support for their players and staff in the meantime.
Citazioni salienti
We will need professional assistance, but we also need the support of all our fans.— Felipe Minambres, Tenerife president
I am sorry with all my soul. Rest in peace, Jesus.— Gerard Pique, Andorra co-owner
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