Spanish footballer Jesús de Miguel dies after collision during second-division match

The incident occurred on Monday, 2 November 2026, during the closing stages of the match at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López in Tenerife. The game was level at 2–2 when De Miguel and Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono challenged for a long ball near the halfway line.

Owono had rushed out of his goal to intercept the ball when he collided with De Miguel. The goalkeeper's knee struck the Tenerife forward, who immediately fell to the ground and lost consciousness. Players from both teams quickly called for medical assistance as the seriousness of the incident became apparent.

Medical personnel treated De Miguel on the pitch for several minutes before taking him to hospital by ambulance. Reports said he suffered a cardiac arrest and was resuscitated during the emergency response. Tenerife initially described his condition as stable despite the severity of his injuries, but later announced that his neurological condition had deteriorated.

The club confirmed his death on Tuesday morning, 3 November, at 8am local time. In an emotional statement, Tenerife said it was devastated by the loss and expressed its condolences to his family, friends, teammates and supporters. The family also requested privacy during the difficult period.

The match was abandoned following the incident, with Owono shown a straight red card by the referee. The Spanish football authorities subsequently postponed scheduled cup matches as a mark of respect. Clubs across Spain and Europe, including Barcelona and Real Madrid, also issued condolence messages, while several stadiums observed moments of silence in his memory.

Spanish police have opened judicial proceedings relating to a possible involuntary manslaughter offence, following the player's death. However, prosecutors have indicated that a criminal case arising from an incident during normal play may be difficult to pursue. The inquiry is part of the legal procedure followed in Spain when a death is considered to have resulted from non-natural causes; it does not mean that the goalkeeper has been convicted of any offence.

De Miguel joined Tenerife in 2025 after previously playing for several Spanish clubs, including Castellón. He was part of the team during the 2025–2026 campaign and scored 11 goals in the previous season, according to Reuters. His death has renewed attention on the physical risks players face during competitive football, although serious and fatal collisions remain rare.

The football community continues to pay tribute to the striker, with messages of sympathy coming from clubs, players and governing bodies. His death has left his family, teammates and supporters in mourning, while the legal and sporting authorities continue to address the consequences of the incident.