The football world is in mourning after Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel died following a serious head injury during a Spanish second division match against FC Andorra. The 27-year-old forward collided with goalkeeper Jesus Owono in a heavy challenge and was taken to hospital, where he passed away at 07:00 GMT on Tuesday. A minute’s silence was held before Champions League matches across Europe on Tuesday, with further tributes planned for Europa League and Conference League fixtures this week.
Tenerife have declared six days of mourning, suspending all club activities, and will open their stadium on Saturday for fans to pay their respects. Players, staff, and supporters gathered at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez to lay flowers and light candles beneath a black-and-white image of De Miguel. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho expressed his sadness, calling it a “very, very difficult moment” for Owono, who received a straight red card and has since deactivated his social media.
Brazilian forward Raphinha, after scoring twice for Barcelona, said he did not want to talk about football and instead sent condolences to De Miguel’s family. Spanish police have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter, though prosecutors say criminal proceedings are unlikely. De Miguel, who joined Tenerife in 2025 from Castellon, had helped the club gain promotion to the second division.
He began his career at Leganes and played for Unionistas de Salamanca before moving to Castellon in 2023. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also paid tribute, calling the news “devastating” and emphasizing the need for compassion and support across the football community.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing