Madrid: Spanish football has been left mourning following the death of CD Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who passed away at the age of 30 after suffering a serious head-on collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesús Owono during a Spanish second-division fixture.
Tenerife confirmed that De Miguel died at 8:00 am on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, after his condition deteriorated while receiving treatment in intensive care. The forward had suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest during Monday’s match and never regained consciousness.
The tragic incident occurred during stoppage time in Tenerife’s home encounter against Andorra, which ended in a 2-2 scoreline before being abandoned. The match had already been rescheduled by 24 hours because of concerns over torrential rainfall on the island.
In the 96th minute, a long ball was played forward from Tenerife’s defensive area. De Miguel chased the ball into open space, while Andorra goalkeeper Owono rushed well outside his penalty area in an attempt to intercept it. The goalkeeper collided heavily with the Tenerife attacker near the centre circle.
Owono was immediately shown a red card, while De Miguel remained unconscious on the pitch. Players from both teams quickly called for medical assistance as emergency personnel attended to the injured forward.
The referee, Manuel Ángel Pérez Hernández, subsequently abandoned the match in the 108th minute.
Medical staff managed to restore De Miguel’s pulse inside the ambulance before rushing him to Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria in Santa Cruz. Tenerife initially reported that the striker was breathing independently and remained stable, although he was unconscious and in critical condition.
However, his neurological condition worsened in the early hours of Tuesday. The club announced at around 5:00 am that his condition had deteriorated, before confirming his death three hours later.
Tenerife and Spanish Football Mourn De Miguel
In an emotional statement released on Tuesday morning, CD Tenerife confirmed the heartbreaking news and expressed their grief over the loss of their player.
The club described itself as devastated and extended its support to De Miguel’s family, friends, teammates and everyone associated with the Tenerife football community.
Tributes also poured in from across Spanish football.
Gerard Piqué, former Barcelona defender and majority shareholder of FC Andorra, expressed his condolences through social media, writing: “I am so deeply sorry. Rest in peace, Jesús.”
Andorra also issued a statement extending its deepest sympathies to the striker’s family, teammates and CD Tenerife.
Barcelona and Real Madrid were among the leading clubs to pay tribute. Barcelona said its thoughts and support were with De Miguel’s family and loved ones, while Real Madrid conveyed its condolences to his family, teammates, club and friends.
Jesús de Miguel’s Football Career
De Miguel spent most of his professional career competing in Spain’s lower divisions, representing several clubs, including Leganés B, Inter Madrid, Fuenlabrada, Navalcarnero, Unionistas de Salamanca and Castellón.
He enjoyed a particularly successful spell at Castellón, finishing as the club’s leading goalscorer during their promotion campaign to Spain’s second division in 2024.
The striker subsequently joined CD Tenerife in 2025, continuing his career in Spanish professional football.
Spanish Football Federation Postpones Cup Fixtures
As a mark of respect following the tragic death, the Spanish Football Federation announced the postponement of all matches scheduled for Tuesday in the Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina.
The decision reflected the widespread grief across Spanish football following the sudden passing of the 30-year-old striker.
