Football world mourns Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel

Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel died at 07:00 GMT on Tuesday after suffering head and chest injuries in a heavy collision with goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Spanish second division match against FC Andorra on Monday, the club said.

Tributes were paid at matches across Europe on Tuesday night, with a minute's silence observed before Champions League fixtures and mourning observed by clubs and supporters.

Tenerife and Andorra were tied 2-2 seven minutes into stoppage time when Owono ran towards the centre circle to clear a long ball and his knee appeared to collide with De Miguel; the striker lay motionless as medical staff treated him before he was taken by ambulance to hospital. The forward's condition was described as stable but serious on Monday, but his health deteriorated on Tuesday morning and he died at 07:00 GMT.

A minute's silence was held before Tuesday evening's Champions League matches across Europe and will be repeated for Wednesday's fixtures, as well as all Europa League and Conference League matches this week. A minute's silence was also held before Aston Villa's visit to Barcelona, and one was observed at Old Trafford where Manchester United hosted Roma; before Villarreal's fixture against Paris St-Germain, fans held up a sign that read 'DEP'.

Tenerife announced six official days of mourning, with all club activities suspended during that period, and said players, staff and officials will attend De Miguel's funeral in Navahermosa, Toledo. The club will open their home ground on Saturday evening to allow supporters to "bid a fitting farewell" and mourners laid flowers and lit candles beneath a black and white image of De Miguel at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez. "Jesus de Miguel's family would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and, from the bottom of their hearts, ask that their privacy be respected at this terrible time. May he rest in peace," the club added.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho said the incident was a "very, very difficult moment" for Owono and added: "I think it's something very shocking for the world in general, so imagine for the world of football, for people like us who are on the pitch competing every day," he said. "It's hard, it's sad. Obviously, all our words and feelings go out to the family and friends of the player who passed away, and I also think this has to be a very, very, very difficult moment for the other player [Owono] involved in the situation." After scoring twice in Barcelona's win over Aston Villa, Raphinha said: "Today I don't want to talk about football, I want to send a message to the family of Jesus - may he rest in peace. From the club, I want to send a message of strength to the family." Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: "To see a colleague lose his life in such a manner, it's beyond any words that I can put today." Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi wrote on Instagram: "There are no words. My condolences and lots of strength to all his family and friends," Rafael Nadal expressed a "terrible sadness" at De Miguel's passing "from the bottom of my heart", Cristiano Ronaldo wrote: "A tragedy. No words. Lots of strength to the family. May he rest in peace," and Gerard Pique said: "I am sorry with all my soul. Rest in peace, Jesus."

Reuters reported on Tuesday that police in Spain have opened an investigation for possible involuntary manslaughter following De Miguel's death, and under Spanish law any death that is deemed non-natural automatically triggers a judicial inquiry. Santa Cruz de Tenerife chief prosecutor Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui told Spanish news agency EFE that criminal proceedings were "very unlikely". The referee showed Owono a straight red card before abandoning the match, and the goalkeeper, who had over 30,000 followers on Instagram on Tuesday morning, has since deactivated his account.

De Miguel joined Tenerife in 2025 on a three-year deal and had been at the club for just over a season after signing from Castellon; he helped the team gain promotion to the second division. The Spanish forward began his career with Leganes at youth level in the Madrid suburbs, played for a string of teams including Unionistas de Salamanca, and signed for Castellon in 2023. "We are torn by the news," said Fran Leon, president of Tenerife's federation of supporters' clubs. "All of the island is in mourning. All of Canarias is in mourning. It's a shared pain." Fan David Tejera said De Miguel's "effort" and "passion" for Tenerife would endure.

Tenerife have confirmed the club will observe six official days of mourning and that the funeral in Navahermosa will be attended by players, staff and officials; the stadium will be opened on Saturday evening to allow supporters to pay their respects.