Football world comes together to mourn Jesus de Miguel.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have joined footballers, clubs and fans around the world in paying tribute to Spanish footballer Jesús de Miguel, who died aged 30 following a collision during a match.
The Tenerife striker died on Tuesday, November 3, after suffering a cardiac arrest following a collision with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during Monday’s Spanish second-division encounter.
News of his death prompted an outpouring of grief and condolences from across the football community.
What did Ronaldo and Messi say?
Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, shared a black-and-white photograph of De Miguel celebrating a goal on his Instagram Story.
The Portuguese superstar wrote in Spanish, in a message translated as:
“A tragedy. No words… Sending strength to the family. Rest in peace.”
Messi also took to Instagram to express his sadness, sharing a photograph of the Tenerife forward.
The Inter Miami captain wrote:
“There are no words… My condolences and much strength to all his family and friends. May he rest in peace.”
The tributes from two of football’s biggest stars reflected the widespread sadness following the striker’s death.
What happened to Jesús de Miguel?
The incident took place during stoppage time in Tenerife’s match against FC Andorra at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López on Monday.
De Miguel was chasing a loose ball when Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono came out of his area to clear it.
The two players collided, with Owono’s knee appearing to hit the striker in the chest.
De Miguel collapsed on the pitch and received emergency medical treatment before being taken to hospital.
De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest and was initially reported to be in a serious but stable condition. However, his neurological condition later deteriorated.
Tenerife confirmed his death on Tuesday morning.
The match, which was tied 2-2 at the time, was abandoned following the incident.
Football world pays tribute
In an emotional statement, Tenerife said the club was devastated by the loss of its striker.
The club said it was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy and extended its support to De Miguel’s family, friends and everyone associated with Tenerife.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and several other leading European clubs also paid tribute to the player.
Former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué, who owns FC Andorra, also expressed his condolences, while Kylian Mbappé was among the players who shared messages of support.
UEFA announced that a minute’s silence would be observed at European club competition matches this week in memory of De Miguel.
The 30-year-old joined Tenerife from Castellón in 2025 and helped the club secure promotion to Spain’s second division last season.
His sudden death has plunged Spanish football into mourning, with supporters remembering a player whose life and career were cut tragically short.
