By Salma El-Sakka
The world of football is mourning the death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who died on Tuesday at 07:00 GMT after suffering head and chest injuries in a heavy collision with goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Spanish second division match against FC Andorra on Monday.
Tributes across Europe
A minute's silence was held before Tuesday evening's Champions League matches across Europe and will be repeated for Wednesday's fixtures as well as all Europa League and Conference League matches this week. Mourners laid flowers and lit candles beneath a black and white image of De Miguel at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez, Tenerife's home ground. The club announced six official days of mourning with all activities suspended, and players, staff and officials will attend the funeral in Navahermosa, Toledo. The stadium will open on Saturday evening for supporters to bid farewell.
Incident details and investigation
The collision occurred in the seventh minute of stoppage time with the match tied 2-2. Owono ran towards the centre circle to clear a long ball and his knee appeared to collide with De Miguel, who lay motionless on the pitch before being taken to hospital by ambulance. The referee showed Owono a straight red card and abandoned the match. Spanish police have opened an investigation for possible involuntary manslaughter, though the chief prosecutor in Santa Cruz de Tenerife said criminal proceedings were "very unlikely". Owono has since deactivated his Instagram account.
Club and fan reactions
Fran Leon, president of Tenerife's federation of supporters' clubs, said the entire island and the Canary Islands are in mourning. Fan David Tejera praised De Miguel's effort and passion, stating he is already part of the club's blue and white history. De Miguel joined Tenerife in 2025 on a three-year deal and helped the team gain promotion to the second division after starting his career with Leganes and playing for Unionistas de Salamanca and Castellon.
Reactions from football figures
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho described the incident as a "very, very difficult moment" for Owono and expressed sadness for the football world. After scoring twice in Barcelona's win over Aston Villa, Brazilian forward Raphinha said he wanted to send a message to De Miguel's family and a message of strength from the club. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta called the incident "heartbreaking" and said it was beyond words.
Global stars pay tribute
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Nadal all posted condolences on social media. Messi wrote there were no words and sent strength to the family. Nadal expressed "terrible sadness" and Ronaldo called it a tragedy. Former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, who co-owns Andorra, said he was sorry with all his soul.
Teammates remember De Miguel
Tenerife midfielder Juanjo Sanchez highlighted De Miguel's wonderful character, saying he never had an unkind word and always displayed exemplary conduct. Striker Enric Gallego described him as "one of the best people" he has met, thanking him for camaraderie and humanity. Forward Fran Sabina said their sincere friendship was mutual and that neither time nor absence could change that appreciation.
