World football mourns Tenerife striker as Messi and others honour him
Jesús De Miguel, the 30‑year‑old CD Tenerife forward, died on Tuesday after a severe chest impact with FC Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a Segunda División match at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López on Monday, which was halted at the 108th minute; Lionel Messi, Nico Paz, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé all posted condolences.
Details of the fatal collision
In the final stages of the game, the score was 2‑2 when De Miguel contested a split ball with the visiting goalkeeper, whose high‑energy challenge struck De Miguel’s chest. The impact was immediately recognised as serious, prompting both teams’ medical staff to rush onto the pitch.
Paramedics performed on‑field resuscitation before transferring De Miguel by ambulance to Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. The match was suspended permanently at minute 108 while the player received emergency care.
The club later confirmed that De Miguel suffered a cardiac arrest and was unconscious, although he briefly regained his pulse and breath of his own accord. During the early hours of Tuesday his neurological condition worsened and he was pronounced dead at 8 a.m. Spanish time.
De Miguel had joined Tenerife from Castellón before the start of the 2025/26 season and had scored 11 goals in the previous campaign. The tragedy also affected FC Andorra, as goalkeeper Jesús Owono was shown a red card for the challenge.
Global tributes and club reactions
Andorra club president Gerard Piqué expressed his sorrow, saying: “Lo siento con toda mi alma. Descansa en paz Jesús.”
Lionel Messi shared Tenerife’s official statement on his Instagram story, writing: “No hay palabras… Mis condolencias y mucha fuerza para toda su familia y sus amigos. Que en paz descanse.”
Midfielder Nico Paz, who rose through Tenerife’s youth ranks, posted: “No me lo puedo creer. Mucha fuerza a toda su familia y amigos en estos momentos tan duros. Descansa en paz.”
Kylian Mbappé posted an Instagram message that read: “Mucha tristeza. No hay palabras. DEP.”
Cristiano Ronaldo shared an image of De Miguel on Instagram, adding: “Una tragedia. Sin palabras… Mucho ánimo a la familia. Que descanse en paz.”
José Mourinho sent his condolences and highlighted the difficult situation for goalkeeper Jesús Owono, stating: “El fallecimiento de Jesús de Miguel es impactante… Es duro y es triste.”
The club observed a minute of silence before training and issued a statement to support the family, while supporters gathered to pay their respects to the player.
Tragedy strikes CD Tenerife as Jesús de Miguel dies after collision
Figures from across the sport sent condolences and tributes were observed during Champions League matches, underscoring the player’s impact beyond Spain.
The world of football is in mourning, with clubs and fans alike reflecting on the loss of the young striker.
Olé highlighted the outpouring of messages across social media, and the club’s announcement featured the name JESÚS MIGUEL in capital letters and was issued CON a solemn tone.