The football world has been left in mourning following the tragic death of Spanish striker Jesus de Miguel, who died after suffering serious injuries in a collision with goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Spanish second-division match between Tenerife and FC Andorra. The incident took place on Monday, when both teams were competing in a closely contested game that ended in a devastating tragedy.
De Miguel was immediately attended to by medical staff on the pitch and rushed to hospital by ambulance, but despite receiving medical treatment, his condition deteriorated the following morning. He died at 07:00 GMT on Tuesday, turning what had been an ordinary football fixture into one of the saddest moments for Spanish football. His death prompted tributes from clubs, players, supporters and some of the biggest names in international sport, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Rafael Nadal. As the football community remembers the Tenerife forward, many are asking who Jesus de Miguel was, how he built his career and what happened during the final match of his life.
Who Was Jesus de Miguel?
Jesus de Miguel was a Spanish professional footballer who played as a forward for CD Tenerife, a historic football club based in the Canary Islands. He joined Tenerife in the summer of 2025 after leaving Castellon, signing a three-year contract that reflected the club’s confidence in his abilities and his potential contribution to the team. Although he had not become one of the most internationally recognised names in football, De Miguel had established himself through years of playing across Spanish football, gradually building his professional career and earning opportunities at different clubs.
His journey was shaped by persistence, experience and a commitment to the sport, as he moved through several teams before reaching Tenerife. The striker had also played an important role in helping Tenerife achieve promotion to Spain’s second division, making his contribution particularly meaningful to the club and its supporters. For Tenerife fans, he was not merely another player in the squad but someone who had become part of the team’s recent journey and ambitions. His sudden death has therefore been deeply painful for a club and community that had welcomed him only a little over a season earlier.
De Miguel began his football journey at youth level with Leganes, a Spanish club based in the Madrid metropolitan area. Like many young footballers hoping to establish themselves professionally, he spent his early years developing his abilities and gaining experience through competitive football. His career subsequently took him through several Spanish teams, including Unionistas de Salamanca, where he continued working towards greater opportunities.
These years across different clubs helped him gain valuable experience and gradually establish his reputation as a forward. In 2023, he signed for Castellon, another important stage in his professional development. His performances and progress eventually brought him to Tenerife in 2025, where he became part of a squad looking to strengthen its position in Spanish football. His arrival coincided with an important period for Tenerife, as the club successfully gained promotion to the second division. Although his career was tragically cut short, the contribution he made to his team and the relationships he developed with fellow players have become an important part of the tributes following his death.
What Happened During the Collision With Jesus Owono?
The tragedy occurred during Tenerife’s Spanish second-division encounter against FC Andorra on Monday. The match was particularly competitive, with both sides level at 2-2 when the incident happened seven minutes into stoppage time. At that stage, the teams were still fighting for a result, but a collision between De Miguel and Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono brought the match to an abrupt and devastating end. Owono had moved away from his goal and towards the centre circle to clear a long ball when his knee appeared to collide with De Miguel.
The Tenerife forward suffered serious head and chest injuries in the incident and immediately required medical attention. He remained motionless on the pitch while medical staff from the teams attended to him, attempting to provide urgent assistance before he was taken away by ambulance to a nearby hospital. The atmosphere inside the stadium changed dramatically as players from both sides struggled to process what had happened. Several of De Miguel’s teammates were visibly distressed, with some breaking down in tears as they watched medical personnel attend to their fellow player.
🔵⚪️ | Golpe fortísimo de Owono sobre Jesús de Miguel que hace que salten todas las alarmas. 🇪🇸👀 🙏🏼 Pronta recuperación a Jesús y que todo quede en un susto 🏟️ Tenerife – Andorra https://t.co/NXopIJ7p9H
— Laliga News (@laligaa_neews) November 2, 2026
Following the collision, the referee showed Owono a straight red card before abandoning the match. De Miguel was initially reported to be in stable but serious condition on Monday, giving those following the incident hope that he might recover. However, his health deteriorated on Tuesday morning, and he died at approximately 07:00 GMT. The news sent shockwaves throughout Spanish football, with supporters, clubs and fellow professionals expressing their grief. Spanish police subsequently opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter following his death, according to reports. Under Spanish law, a death considered non-natural automatically triggers a judicial inquiry.
However, Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui told the Spanish news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were considered very unlikely. The investigation is part of the legal process following an unexpected death and does not itself establish that anyone committed a crime. Meanwhile, Owono has also been facing an extremely difficult situation following the incident. His Instagram account, which reportedly had more than 30,000 followers on Tuesday morning, was subsequently deactivated. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho described the situation as deeply shocking and acknowledged that it would be an exceptionally difficult moment for the goalkeeper involved in the collision.
Football World Pays Tribute as Tenerife Announces Six Days of Mourning
Following confirmation of De Miguel’s death, tributes began arriving from across the football world, demonstrating how deeply the tragedy had affected the sporting community. Tenerife announced six official days of mourning, during which all club activities would be suspended. The club also confirmed that its players, staff members and officials would attend De Miguel’s funeral in Navahermosa, Toledo. In addition, Tenerife announced that its home ground, the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez, would open on Saturday evening to allow supporters to come together and pay their final respects to the striker.
Outside the stadium, mourners gathered beneath a black-and-white image of De Miguel, leaving flowers and lighting candles in his memory. The emotional scenes reflected the sadness felt throughout the island and among supporters who had followed the club’s journey. Fran Leon, president of Tenerife’s federation of supporters’ clubs, described the news as devastating, saying that the entire island and the wider Canary Islands were mourning together. Supporter David Tejera also remembered De Miguel for his effort and passion, saying that he would remain part of Tenerife’s blue-and-white history.
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The tragedy also reached the biggest stages of European football. A minute’s silence was observed before Tuesday evening’s Champions League matches across Europe, with the tribute scheduled to continue before Wednesday’s fixtures and throughout the week’s Europa League and Conference League matches. Before the Champions League encounter between Barcelona and Aston Villa, players and supporters also observed a moment of silence in his memory.
Fans of Spanish club Villarreal displayed a sign reading DEP, an abbreviation of the Spanish expression “Descanse en Paz”, meaning rest in peace. Several prominent football figures also shared emotional messages. Lionel Messi expressed his condolences to De Miguel’s family and friends, writing that there were no words to describe the tragedy and wishing them strength. Cristiano Ronaldo also paid tribute, calling the incident a tragedy and sending his support to the family.
Former Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal expressed terrible sadness over the striker’s death, while former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, who co-owns FC Andorra, also shared his condolences. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the incident as heartbreaking, saying that seeing a fellow professional lose his life in such circumstances was beyond words. Barcelona forward Raphinha similarly chose to focus on the tragedy rather than football after his team’s victory, sending a message of strength to De Miguel’s family.
Perhaps some of the most personal tributes came from the people who shared the dressing room with De Miguel. Tenerife midfielder Juanjo Sanchez remembered him as a wonderful person who brought happiness to everyday life, recalling their conversations, laughter and walks together after training. He described De Miguel as someone who treated others with kindness and maintained exemplary conduct despite the challenges he faced.
Striker Enric Gallego also paid tribute, remembering his former teammate for his character, humanity, friendship and positive attitude. Forward Fran Sabina shared an emotional message about the memories they had created together, describing their friendship as something that would remain meaningful despite his absence. De Miguel’s family, meanwhile, thanked everyone who had sent messages of support and requested privacy during their difficult time.
Jesus de Miguel’s death has become a heartbreaking reminder of the unpredictable dangers that can arise in professional sport. For Tenerife, his teammates and supporters, the loss is deeply personal. His career may have been cut short, but his contribution to the club, his friendships and the memories he created will remain part of the story of the footballer they welcomed in 2025. Across Spain and beyond, the tributes reflect a shared sense of loss for a player whose life ended far too soon.