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The death of Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel following a collision with a goalkeeper during a Spanish second-division match has brought back painful memories of similar tragedies in football.
The 30-year-old suffered serious injuries after colliding with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono on Monday, November 2. He was taken to hospital but died the following morning.
However, De Miguel is not the first footballer to lose his life after an incident during a match. From cardiac emergencies to fatal collisions, several players have died while playing the sport.
Here are 10 notable cases recorded since 2001.
Cameroon | Age 28
Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé collapsed during his country’s Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia on June 26, 2003.
The Manchester City player fell to the ground without contact during the second half. Medical personnel tried to revive him for about 45 minutes, but their efforts failed.
An autopsy later identified hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition, as the cause of his death.
Hungary | Age 24
Benfica striker Miklós Fehér collapsed during a Portuguese league match against Vitória de Guimarães on January 25, 2004.
He had received a yellow card shortly before falling to the ground. Medical staff rushed to help him, but he could not be saved.
His death shocked Portuguese football and became one of the most memorable tragedies in the country’s football history.
Brazil | Age 24
Brazilian striker Cristiano Júnior died following a collision with goalkeeper Subrata Pal during India’s Federation Cup final on December 5, 2004.
He was playing for Dempo Sports Club against Mohun Bagan when he collided with the goalkeeper after scoring.
Cristiano initially moved away from the incident but soon collapsed. Efforts to revive him failed, and he was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.
Brazil | Age 30
Brazilian defender Paulo Sérgio de Oliveira Silva, popularly known as Serginho, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during a Brazilian league match between São Caetano and São Paulo on October 27, 2004.
Medical personnel attended to him, but he died following the emergency.
His death prompted changes to medical assistance and preventive measures in Brazilian football.
Spain | Age 22
Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta collapsed during a Spanish league match against Getafe on August 25, 2007.
He initially regained consciousness and walked towards the dressing room. However, he suffered further cardiac arrests and was admitted to intensive care.
Puerta died three days later, on August 28. He was 22.
Nigeria | Age 25
Nigerian striker Endurance Idahor collapsed during a Sudanese league match between Al-Merrikh and Al-Amal on March 6, 2010.
He had a minor collision with another player before falling to the ground. Medical personnel attended to him, but he died while being taken to hospital.
Idahor had previously played for Nigerian clubs, including Julius Berger and Dolphins, before moving to Sudan. He was also part of Nigeria’s under-23 setup.
Nigeria | Age 23
Nasarawa United defender Chineme Martins died after collapsing during a Nigeria Professional Football League match against Katsina United on March 8, 2020.
He fell unconscious while play was ongoing. Medical personnel from both clubs attempted to revive him before he was taken to Dalhatu-Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia.
The Nigeria Football Federation subsequently demanded proper medical facilities at stadiums before league matches could continue. The incident also raised questions about emergency response and ambulance services at Nigerian football grounds.
Ghana | Age 28
Former Ghana international Raphael Dwamena died after collapsing during an Albanian league match between his club, Egnatia, and Partizani on November 11, 2023.
The striker suffered a cardiac emergency during the game. Medical personnel rushed to assist him, but he died despite their intervention.
Dwamena had represented Ghana nine times and played for clubs in Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Albania.
Nigeria | Age 40
Former Super Eagles striker Michael Eneramo collapsed during a friendly match in Ungwan Yelwa, Kaduna, on April 24, 2026.
The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed his death. It said early reports indicated that he suffered a cardiac arrest during the game.
Eneramo earned 10 caps for Nigeria and played for several clubs, including Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Beşiktaş and Sivasspor.
He became particularly popular among Esperance supporters, who nicknamed him “Al Dababa”, meaning “The Tank”.
Spain | Age 30
Jesus de Miguel is the latest player on this list.
The Tenerife striker suffered a serious collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono during a Spanish second-division match on November 2, 2026.
The incident happened in stoppage time, with the score tied at 2-2. Owono rushed out to clear a long ball but struck De Miguel in the chest with his knee.
Medical personnel treated the striker on the pitch before taking him to hospital. Tenerife initially described his condition as serious but stable. However, the club later announced that his neurological condition had worsened.
De Miguel died at 08:00 local time on November 3. The referee had abandoned the match following the collision.
These cases show that football-related deaths have occurred across different countries, competitions and generations.
Some players suffered sudden cardiac emergencies, while others sustained fatal injuries during collisions. In several cases, medical teams attempted emergency treatment but could not save them.
The deaths of Nigerian players such as Idahor, Martins and Eneramo also show that the problem is not limited to European football.
Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding De Miguel’s death have renewed attention on the dangers of serious on-field collisions and the importance of rapid medical response during matches.
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