Football deaths: Five players who lost their lives during matches or from injuries

Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel died on Tuesday after suffering injuries in a collision with FC Andorra’s goalkeeper during a Spanish second division match.

The 30-year-old is the latest footballer to die either on the pitch or as a result of injuries sustained during a game. AFP Sport highlights five other tragic cases.

Marc-Vivien Foe – June 2003

Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe suffered a heart attack and collapsed during a Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia in Lyon, France.

The former Manchester City, West Ham and Lyon player was carried from the field while medical staff attempted to revive him with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and oxygen.

After 45 minutes of efforts to restart his heart, Foe was pronounced dead at the age of 28.

His death led to improvements in how footballers are tested for heart conditions and treated during matches. Club medical teams were trained in CPR and the use of defibrillators.

Antonio Puerta – August 2007

Spain international Antonio Puerta collapsed while playing for Sevilla against Getafe in La Liga. The 22-year-old died three days later after suffering multiple organ failure caused by prolonged cardiac arrest.

Puerta had helped Sevilla win the UEFA Cup three months earlier.

Spain defender Sergio Ramos paid tribute to him with a tattoo and wore a Puerta-dedicated T-shirt during Spain’s 2010 World Cup triumph.

“Antonio has always been with me. The next game, I went out on the field with his shirt and for a long time after that, I wore one that was dedicated to him,” Ramos said.

Phil O’Donnell – December 2007

Motherwell captain Phil O’Donnell died from heart failure near the end of his team’s 5-3 Scottish Premier League victory over Dundee United.

The 35-year-old midfielder collapsed as he was preparing to be substituted. He received treatment on the pitch for about five minutes before being taken to an ambulance.

O’Donnell had represented Scotland and played for Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday. His death caused widespread mourning in Scottish football, with several fixtures postponed.

“He was a man among boys in every sense, in his attitude, his professionalism and integrity and sincerity,” Motherwell manager Mark McGhee said.

Cristiano Junior – August 2009

Brazilian striker Cristiano Junior, then the highest-paid footballer in India, collided with the opposing goalkeeper after scoring for Dempo in the 2004 Federation Cup final in Bangalore.

The 25-year-old had moved to India to earn enough money to build a house for his mother. He collapsed 12 minutes from the end and was attended to immediately by his Nigerian strike partner Santi Martins.

Martins remained with him until an ambulance took him to hospital, but Cristiano Junior was pronounced dead on arrival after suffering cardiac arrest.

“The match continued. We played the remaining 12 minutes, received the trophy and were told of Cristiano’s death only when we reached the hospital. We broke down, unable to control ourselves,” teammate and club captain Stanley Colaco told the Times of India in 2021.

Juan Izquierdo – August 2024

Uruguayan central defender Juan Izquierdo suffered cardiac arrhythmia during Nacional’s Copa Libertadores last-16 tie against Brazilian club Sao Paulo FC.

He was taken to hospital but died five days later from “cardio respiratory arrest associated with his cardiac arrhythmia”.

Izquierdo’s second child had been born 10 days before his death. Nacional described it as an “irreplaceable loss”.