Messi leads tributes after footballer Jesus de Miguel dies following collision with goalkeeper

Football has been plunged into mourning following the death of CD Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 30, a day after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Segunda Division fixture against FC Andorra.

The Spanish second-tier encounter was abandoned in the seventh minute of stoppage time on Monday after De Miguel collapsed following a collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono. The goalkeeper had rushed out of his penalty area to deal with a long ball but accidentally struck the Tenerife forward in the chest with his knee.

De Miguel immediately fell to the ground and remained motionless, prompting players from both sides to urgently signal for medical assistance. Owono was subsequently shown a straight red card for the challenge.

Medical personnel rushed onto the pitch and attempted to revive the striker for more than five minutes before he was transported to hospital by ambulance. Despite the efforts to save his life, the 30-year-old could not recover from the cardiac arrest.

Tenerife confirmed his death on Tuesday, expressing profound grief over the loss of their player.

"Racked with pain, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe that this is true, from CD Tenerife we communicate the tragic passing of Jesus de Miguel Alameda," the club said.

"There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this feeling overflowing with sadness."

The tragic incident has prompted an outpouring of condolences from across the football world, with some of the sport's biggest names, including Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, paying tribute to the Spanish forward.

How did Lionel Messi and other football stars pay tribute?

Messi was among the prominent figures to express sympathy following confirmation of De Miguel's death.

The Argentine superstar shared a black-and-white photograph of the Tenerife forward on Instagram, accompanying it with a heartfelt message for his family and friends.

"There are no words... My condolences and lots of strength to his family and friends. May he rest in peace."

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe also took to his Instagram story to acknowledge the tragedy, expressing his sadness over the sudden loss.

"Mucha tristeza. No hay palabras. Repose en paix. (Deeply sad. There are no words. Rest in peace.)

Several other footballers, clubs and organisations joined the tributes, with messages of support appearing under Tenerife's Instagram post announcing the player's passing.

Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen conveyed their condolences to De Miguel's family and the Spanish club.

"From Bayer 04 Leverkusen, we send our deepest condolences for this painful loss. All our love to the family and loved ones of Jesus de Miguel and to the entire CD Tenerife family."

Liverpool and Spain forward Victor Munoz also paid his respects, writing: "Rest in peace."

Brazilian international Vinicius Junior shared a message of solidarity with those affected by the tragedy.

"Sending lots of love to all the family and friends! Rest in peace!"

Andorra president Gerard Pique, meanwhile, expressed his sorrow shortly after the match was abandoned.

"I'm sorry with all my heart. Rest in peace Jesus," he wrote on social media.

What measures have Spanish football authorities taken following his death?

The tragedy has also led to significant changes to the Spanish football calendar, with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) postponing all matches scheduled for Tuesday.

The decision affected fixtures across domestic competitions, including the Copa del Rey and Copa de la Reina, as the governing body sought to honour De Miguel's memory and show solidarity with his family, teammates and supporters.

The federation also cancelled the official presentation of Spain's Under-21 international fixture against Japan as a mark of respect.

UEFA announced a separate tribute, confirming that a minute's silence would be observed before all European matches taking place during the week.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin also issued a statement expressing the governing body's grief over the player's death.

"We are heartbroken by the death of Jesus de Miguel Alameda," UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said. "We have searched for words and found only silence."

Barcelona and Real Madrid were among the Spanish clubs that extended their condolences, underlining the widespread impact of the incident across the country's football community.

"Our thoughts and support are with his family, friends and loved ones during these difficult times," Barcelona said in a statement.

Real Madrid also released a message of sympathy.

"Real Madrid wishes to express its condolences and affection to his family, his teammates, his club, and all his loved ones," the club said.

What is known about the police investigation into the incident?

While the football community continues to mourn De Miguel, Spanish authorities have also initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Police confirmed on Tuesday that an inquiry had been opened into possible involuntary manslaughter. Such investigations are a standard legal procedure in Spain when a person dies under circumstances classified as non-natural, including accidents.

However, the development does not mean that Owono has been charged with an offence or that investigators have established criminal responsibility.

Spanish law requires judicial examination of deaths involving non-natural causes, with authorities expected to establish precisely how the incident occurred and what led to the fatal outcome.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui told EFE that criminal proceedings were considered unlikely because the collision happened during an active football match.

He explained that the referee's report and the assessment of the football federation would be important in determining whether the goalkeeper's challenge involved dangerous conduct or any intention to cause harm.

Article 142 of Spain's Penal Code deals with negligent homicide. Gross negligence can carry a prison sentence of between one and four years, while less serious negligence may result in a fine.

These provisions outline potential legal consequences rather than indicating that Owono has been formally accused of a crime.

Investigators are expected to examine video footage of the collision, the nature of the contact and forensic findings concerning the cause of De Miguel's death.

Importantly, the goalkeeper's red card does not automatically establish criminal negligence. Similarly, the fact that a player died following an on-field collision does not, by itself, demonstrate that a criminal offence took place.

The RFEF may also assess the incident separately under its disciplinary regulations. Its disciplinary framework provides for suspensions of one to three matches for violent play or actions that create a risk, while incidents involving violence resulting in serious harm can attract penalties ranging from four to 12 matches.

What has Jesus Owono said following the tragic collision?

The incident has also placed Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono under considerable scrutiny, with the player facing significant backlash on social media following the forward's death.

Owono reportedly deactivated his Instagram account amid a wave of online abuse. Footage from the stadium also showed supporters shouting "murderer" as he left the pitch following the abandoned fixture.

Amid the criticism, Jesus Owono issued a statement on Instagram expressing his devastation and insisting that he had never intended to hurt De Miguel.

The goalkeeper described the incident as a terrible accident that would remain with him for the rest of his life, while extending his condolences to the deceased forward's loved ones.

"I am completely devastated by what happened on the pitch yesterday. What was supposed to be just another football match turned into a tragedy that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I want everyone to know that I never intended to hurt anyone. It was a terrible accident, something I wish with all my heart I could take back. No words can express the pain, guilt, and heartbreak I feel right now. My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, teammates, and everyone who loved him. Football means everything to me, but no game, no victory, and no rivalry will ever be worth a human life. I am truly sorry. I will carry this with me forever. Rest in peace. 🕊️💔."

Who was Tenerife forward Jesus de Miguel?

Born in Madrid in 1996, De Miguel had established himself as an important attacking option for Tenerife after joining the club from Castellon ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

The forward enjoyed a productive first season with the Spanish side, scoring 11 goals and contributing to their attacking efforts.

His sudden death at the age of 30 has left teammates, supporters and the wider football community devastated.

What began as an ordinary league fixture between Tenerife and Andorra has instead become a tragedy that has resonated throughout the sport, with tributes continuing to pour in for a player whose life was cut short following an on-field collision.