From Okwaraji to De Miguel: 10 footballers who died during matches

Over the years, football has witnessed several tragic deaths of players during matches. Here are ten such footballers whose lives were cut short while participating in the sport.

1. Samuel Okwaraji from Nigeria passed away in 1989 during a World Cup qualifying match against Angola. He suffered cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at the age of 25.

2. Marc-Vivien Foé, a Cameroonian midfielder, died in 2003 while playing in the Confederations Cup semi-final against Colombia. He collapsed in the second half and was declared dead despite emergency medical efforts.

3. Miklós Fehér, a Hungarian striker, died in 2004 during a league match against Vitória de Guimarães. He suffered cardiac arrest and was unable to be revived at 24 years old.

4. Antonio Puerta, a Spanish midfielder, collapsed and died in 2007 during a league match against Getafe at the age of 22. He partially regained consciousness before passing away in the hospital.

5. Endurance Idahor from Nigeria died in 2010 while playing for Al-Merrikh against Al-Amal in Sudan at the age of 25, succumbing to cardiac arrest after collapsing on the pitch.

6. Piermario Morosini, an Italian midfielder, passed away in 2012 during a Serie B match against Pescara at 25 years old after suffering a cardiac emergency.

7. Peter Biaksangzuala, an Indian footballer, died in 2014 from severe spinal injuries sustained while celebrating a goal in a league match. He was 23 years old.

8. Patrick Ekeng from Cameroon tragically died in 2016 while playing for Dinamo Bucharest against Viitorul Constanța in Romania at the age of 26 after collapsing as a substitute.

9. Raphael Dwamena, a Ghanaian striker, passed away in 2023 during an Albanian league match against Partizani at 28 years old after experiencing a cardiac emergency.

10. The most recent incident occurred in 2026 when Spanish striker Jesús de Miguel died following a cardiac arrest caused by a collision with an opponent during a match for Tenerife.