Soccer players who have died on the field have caused sadness among football fans. For football lovers and players, the most heartbreaking experience is death, especially on the field of play. However, despite football being the most popular sport in the world, the sports world as a whole would prefer to avoid it.
Since 13 January 1889 many football players have lost their lives while playing football take a look at the list of soccer players who died on the field.
Game after game, football provides us with unforgettable moments, victories, and joys. However, it does have its sad and moving moments. Footballers who died on the field will never be forgotten. After all, we should live with their memories and bargain our beloved idols farewell.
List of soccer players who died on the field while playing football
This is a full overview of football players who passed away and whose deaths were published in the media for an assortment of causes, including injuries, cardiac arrests, natural deaths, and occasionally uncertain causes. So far, many footballers have lost their lives while playing soccer for their beloved clubs. The following is a list of soccer players who died on the field from 1889 to the Present:
Date of death | Player | Age at death | Team | Cause Of Death |
---|---|---|---|---|
12 April 2023 | Martin Filipcic | 15 | Samobor | In the youth league match against Dugo Selo, he informed the referee he wasn’t feeling well and then collapsed while receiving medical attention. He was reportedly alive when the ambulance arrived but was dead soon after. |
15 February 2023 | Arne Espeel | 25 | Winkel Sport B | He was a goalkeeper, who collapsed just a moment after saving a penalty against Westrozebeke. After saving the shot, the goalkeeper rose to his feet to celebrate before falling unconscious. The emergency team raced to rescue him yet, he was declared dead shortly after being moved to the hospital. |
07 January 2023 | Modeste M’bami | 40 | Cameroon and Paris Saint-Germain | Died after suffering from a heart attack. |
03 December 2022 | Erion Kajtazi | 17 | KF Trepca ’89 | Cardiac arrest while playing match. |
29 November 2022 | Andrés Balanta | 22 | Atletico Tucuman | Cardiac arrest during training. |
30 September 2022 | Alexandru Vagner | 33 | Inter Cristian | During a workout at the Inter Cristian sports complex, Vagner suffered a heart attack. He was taken to the emergency unit at Brasov County Hospital but was unable to survive. |
14 September 2022 | Mariano Ondo | 23 | Cano Sport Academy | Equatorial Guinean right back; fainted and lost consciousness after a training session; later that day, he was declared dead with a heart attack as the likely cause of death. |
15 July 2022 | Aleksandr Kozlov | 29 | Ararat Yerevan | Spartak Moscow announced Kozlov’s death, which was reportedly caused by a blood clot suffered while training with Zorkiy Krasnogorsk. |
15 May 2022 | Mark Davies | 49 | Retired | Although paramedics were performing CPR on Davies, the 49-year-old collapsed on the field while playing for Llanelli in a veterans cup final. Davies was found unresponsive. |
2 February 2022 | Alexandros Lampis | 21 | GS Ilioupoli | Following the Greek footballer’s cardiac arrest, Lampis passed away on the field five minutes later. It took an ambulance 20 minutes to arrive at the stadium, and there was no defibrillator there. Following the incident, the game versus Ermionida was called off. |
3 January 2022 | Marcos Menaldo | 25 | Deportivo Marquense | The central defender, who was 25 years old, reportedly fainted while training with his teammates. He was taken to a hospital, where his death was officially verified. |
25 December 2021 | Sofiane Loukar | 30 | MC Saida | Immediately passed away after collapsing in the middle of a match. |
23 December 2021 | Mukhaled Al-Raqadi | 29 | Muscat Club | collapsed in the warm-up for the Omantel League match against Suwaiq Club. |
23 December 2021 | Marin Cacic | 23 | NK Nehaj | Died in a hospital on December 21, 2021, while undergoing training, from a cardiac arrest. |
22 December 2021 | Ahmed Amin | 23 | Al Rebat & Al Anwar SC | Goalkeeper Ahmed Amin died in the team’s locker room after suffering a heart attack following a training session. Attempts to immediately revive the player was pointless. The player was then taken in an ambulance to a nearby hospital, but it is reported that he died en route. |
22 December 2021 | Taufik Ramsyah | 20 | Tornado FC Pekanbaru | In a Liga 3 Riau game, the goalkeeper was involved in a collision with a Wahana FC player and sustained a fractured skull. Taufik underwent surgery for his shattered skull and spent several days in a coma before succumbing to his wounds. |
17 December 2021 | Karol Setniewski | 13 | Znicz Pruszkow | After the game, he passed away due to a severe headache. |
12 November 2021 | Jony Lopez | 16 | Sol del Este | While playing the game, he had a fatal heart attack. |
15 October 2021 | Christophe Ramassamy | 54 | AS Saint Yves | Christophe Ramassamy, a 54-year-old footballer, died of a heart attack. |
8 October 2021 | Benoit Sabard | 49 | SC Massay | There were 20 minutes left in the game, and he died. |
25 September 2021 | Guillermo Arias | 31 | Camaguan FC | Arias passed away from a cardiac arrest after collapsing on the field during the third division tournament’s quarterfinals. |
4 September 2021 | Jens De Smet | 27 | FCC Filosoof | Jens (27), an amateur player, collapses and passes away on a Dutch football field. |
2 September 2021 | Dylan Rich | 17 | West Bridgford Colts | A young football player allegedly had a cardiac arrest during a game and died as a result. |
28 August 2021 | Alexander Shishmarev | 23 | Krasnaya Zvezda | During a Russian training game Alexander Shishmarev, collided with an opponent. He received medical attention for “more than an hour” before dying. |
16 July 2021 | Imad Bayumi | 45 | Retired | During a friendly match, he suffered a circulatory collapse. |
11 July 2021 | Jajov Adenan | 30 | Piansano | Cardiac arrest |
22 June 2021 | Viktor Marcell Hegedus | 18 | Andrashida SC | Passed away during a training warmup. |
1 June 2021 | Giuseppe Perrino | 29 | Parma | Died Due to a Heart Attack |
18 April 2021 | Tremaine Stewart | 33 | Portmore United | Died while playing football |
11 April 2021 | Dejan Orsus | 24 | NK Otok | After suffering a cardiac arrest during a league match against Radnicki, he collapsed and died later that day in the hospital. |
8 March 2021 | Abdul Rahman Atef | 23 | Al Qanayat | He died during a league match against El Rowad. |
7 January 2021 | Alex Apolinario | 24 | Alverca | In the 27th minute of a league match on January 3, 2021, went into cardiac arrest. After several attempts, he was revived and taken to the hospital, where he was placed in an induced coma and died four days later. |
27 November 2020 | Sajjad Ali | Al-Sulaikh | While playing a league match against Bismayah, he died of a heart attack. | |
21 November 2020 | Ricky Yacobi | 57 | Retired | While participating in a friendly game with several teammates and journalists, he suffered a heart attack. |
8 March 2020 | Chineme Martins | 22 | Nasarawa United | During a league game, he collapsed and died. |
29 December 2019 | Radhakrishnan Dhanarajan | 39 | East Bengal | After facing breathing problems and chest pain, he collapsed suddenly. |
7 November 2019 | Renan Henrique Santos | 16 | Agua Santa U17 | During a training session, he passed away. Cardiac arrest was the cause of death. |
26 September 2019 | Agustin Martinez | 17 | Boston River | He went into cardiac arrest while sitting on the bench after being replaced in a league game against Cerro due to a knee injury. |
6 July 2019 | Derrick Williams | 30 | Lucas Cwmbran | During a friendly match, he suffered a cardiac arrest. |
17 June 2019 | Edwin Boakai | National Port Authority Anchors | During a training session, he collapsed and died. | |
8 May 2019 | Ludwin Flores Nole | 27 | Los Rangers | After drinking ice-cold water at the end of a match, he suffered a heart attack. |
25 April 2019 | Faty Papy | 28 | Malanti Chiefs | He suffered a heart attack while playing in a match in Eswatini. |
2 March 2019 | Herman Tsinga | 30 | Akanda FC | He collapsed after attempting to win a header. He received a twenty-minute cardiac massage on the field but died en route to the hospital. |
27 January 2019 | Francisco Cavada | 32 | Marina de Cudeyo | Collapsed and died |
22 January 2019 | Fode Sidibe | ASC Bouake | Died after collapsing during a training session. | |
4 November 2018 | Ekundayo Ebenezer Mawoyeka | 23 | Saraykoyspor | Died of a heart attack |
6 October 2018 | Ramon Neto da Costa | 31 | Ararangua Esporte Clube | Died during a friendly game. |
14 September 2018 | Mamadou Camara | 26 | USON Mondeville | Heart attack during training. |
1 September 2018 | Tijmen Steenbergen | 13 | VV Marinus van | Died after a collision with the Left back. |
29 June 2018 | Mohamed Farouk | 33 | Sidi Salem Club | Heart attack during a friendly match |
4 May 2018 | Luyanda Ntshangase | 21 | Maritzburg United | Died from injuries. |
24 March 2018 | Bruno Boban | 25 | Marsonia 1909 | Collapsed during a match and was found dead. |
13 February 2018 | Danilinho | 32 | Juazeirense | Heart attack during training. |
3 February 2018 | Nacho Barbera | 15 | UD Alzira | Died on the field during a youth team match. |
12 December 2017 | Izzy Dezu | 17 | Shelbourne U16 | Unhealthy |
2 November 2017 | Joel Lobanzo | 17 | Royal Antwerp U19 | He died of a heart attack during a training match. |
15 October 2017 | Choirul Huda | 38 | Persela Lamongan | He collided with his teammate Ramon Rodrigues and got injured to his lower jaw and head before passing away in a local hospital. |
1 October 2017 | Shota Maminashvili | 31 | FC Zugdidi | Collapsed during his warmup and died. |
17 September 2017 | Luc Jacobs | 26 | SC Helmondia | Collapsed and died in the hospital. |
5 June 2017 | Cheick Tiote | 30 | Beijing Enterprises | A heart attack caused him to collapse and lose consciousness during a training session. |
3 June 2017 | Aseged Tesfaye | 46 | Ethiopian Coffee | Heart attack during the team training session. |
28 April 2017 | Ben Walker | 15 | Thrapston Town Juniors | Cardiac Arrest |
27 April 2017 | Gofaone Tiro | 26 | Township Rollers | Heart attack during the team training session. |
26 April 2017 | Moise Brou Apanga | 35 | FC 105 Libreville | Heart attack during team training. |
11 February 2017 | James Moorfoot | 28 | Langtoft AFC | Cardiac arrest during a match and died on the field. |
4 December 2016 | Ismail Mrisho Khalfan | 19 | Mbao | During the U-20 League match, he was tackled by an opponent and died of a heart attack. |
13 November 2016 | Jack Atkinson | 18 | Holland F C | During a U-18s game, a heart attack occurred, and died. |
19 September 2016 | Dominic James | 18 | Waterhouse | Collapsed and died. |
13 September 2016 | Dan Wilkinson | 26 | Shaw Lane | Cardiac arrest on the field and died in the hospital. |
11 September 2016 | Ben Idrissa Derme | 34 | AJ Biguglia | Died of a heart attack. |
26 August 2016 | Kieran McDade | 13 | Dunbeth FC | Cardiac arrest during football training. |
15 August 2016 | Michael Umanika | 20 | Zagatala | Died of a suspected heart attack. |
16 July 2016 | Antony Stott | 26 | Thirroul Thunder | Cardiac arrest. |
9 May 2016 | Jeanine Christelle Djomnang | 26 | Cameroon | She died of a heart attack |
7 May 2016 | Bernardo Ribeiro | 26 | Friburguense | He died of a heart attack. |
6 May 2016 | Patrick Ekeng | 26 | Dinamo București | Collapsed in a match and died. |
1 May 2016 | Stefan Petrovski | 18 | Melaka United | Struck by lightning while training on 5 April, died in hospital. |
13 March 2016 | Hugo Suarez | 28 | Llaranes | With severe chest pain, he collapsed and died. |
6 December 2015 | Abdul Haruna | 27 | Kano Pillars F.C. | Collapsed and died on the field while playing in a friendly match. |
15 October 2015 | Sergei Filippenkov | 44 | FC Zenit Penza | Died during a friendly match |
2 September 2015 | Stelios Markousis | 18 | Veria | Heart attack during a training session and died shortly afterward. |
11 July 2015 | Daniel Kowalski | 24 | Germania Niederrodenbach | Heart problem. |
7 July 2015 | Junior Dian | 23 | Tonbridge Angels | Collapsed in a friendly match. |
13 June 2015 | David Oniya | 30 | T-Team | Collapsed and died. |
31 May 2015 | Shetemi Ayetigbo | 16 | Belvedere | Collapsed and died. |
24 May 2015 | Cristian Gomez | 27 | Club Atletico Parana | Died of heart failure during a match. |
14 May 2015 | Emanuel Ortega | 21 | San Martin de Burzaco | Died after sustaining a fatal head injury. |
11 May 2015 | Tim Nicot | 23 | Beerschot-Wilrijk | Died due to heart failure |
30 April 2015 | Gregory Mertens | 24 | Sporting Lokeren | Died due to heart failure |
28 March 2015 | Ben Hiscox | 30 | Stoke Gifford | Hitting his head against the wall |
10 November 2014 | Dipak Adhikari | Abu Dhabi Police Force Team | Died after collapsing during a match. | |
19 October 2014 | Melissa Smith | 15 | Cadley FC | Collapsed on the field and was found dead. |
19 October 2014 | Peter Biaksangzuala | 23 | Bethlehem Vengthlang | He died from spinal injuries sustained when he landed awkwardly while celebrating a goal. |
3 September 2014 | Carlos Barra | 23 | Deportes Maipo Quilicura | Cardiac arrest caused his death. |
23 August 2014 | Albert Ebosse Bodjongo | 24 | JS Kabylie | While leaving the pitch, he was hit by a projectile. |
19 May 2014 | Akli Fairuz | 27 | Persiraja | Died after colliding with the opposite goalkeeper during a game, but died the next day from internal bleeding. |
3 May 2014 | Kodjo Etonam Adjassou | 24 | Bankstown City | Collapsed and died. |
28 February 2014 | Kevon Carter | 30 | Defence Force | After having chest pains during a training session, he died of a heart attack. |
23 December 2013 | Jamie Skinner | 13 | Tynecastle | Cardiac arrest during a match. |
17 November 2013 | Alex Marques | 20 | G.D. Tourizense | Cardiac arrest. |
27 August 2013 | Hector Sanabria | 27 | Deportivo Laferrere | In the league match, he suffered a heart attack and died before reaching the hospital. |
30 July 2013 | Matthias Viereckl | 19 | SC Marchtrenk | Died in a friendly match. |
27 July 2013 | Sekou Camara | 27 | Pelita Bandung Raya | The cause of death was a heart attack, which occurred on the field during a practice session. |
21 July 2013 | Yair Clavijo | 18 | Sporting Cristal | During a reserve match, he died from cerebral edema with brain herniation caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. |
21 June 2013 | Alen Pamic | 23 | NK Istra 1961 | Heart attack. |
17 June 2013 | Mohammad Fahad | 32 | Al-Sulaibikhat | Collided with another player during an unofficial game, which caused severe brain bleeding that kept him in a coma. |
16 May 2013 | Berat Sacipi | 31 | SV Inter Itzehoe | Cardiac arrest |
20 April 2013 | Dominik Rupp | 23 | FSV Hemmersdorf | Cardiac arrest |
2 April 2013 | Quentin Margueritte | 25 | USON Mondeville | Cardiac arrest |
20 October 2012 | Jaouad Akaddar | 28 | Hassania Agadir | Cardiac arrest |
7 October 2012 | Joshua Pepple | 24 | LKS Pomorzanin Nowogard | Cardiac arrest |
2 September 2012 | Victor Brannstrom | 29 | Pitea IF | Cardiac arrest |
5 August 2012 | Chinonso Ihelwere Henry | 21 | Delta Tulcea | Heart failure |
7 July 2012 | Arjuna Luiz Venutto Ramos | 17 | Sao Bernardo | Cardiac arrest |
12 June 2012 | Gerome Graham | 20 | Bodden Town | He passed away during a training session. The cause of death was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. |
5 May 2012 | Mohamed Lemine Ould M’Boye | ASC Nasr Zem Zem | Cardiac arrest | |
14 April 2012 | Piermario Morosini | 25 | Livorno | Cardiac arrest |
10 April 2012 | Patrick Grange | 29 | University of New Mexico | Chronic traumatic encephalopathy |
21 March 2012 | Dhanraj Venkatesh | 27 | Bangalore Mars | Cardiac arrest |
13 November 2011 | Bobsam Elejiko | 30 | K. Merksem S.C. | Collapsed and died during a match |
4 August 2011 | Naoki Matsuda | 34 | Matsumoto Yamaga F.C. | Cardiac arrest |
12 April 2011 | Lokissimbaye Loko | 30 | FC Beaumontois | Heart attack |
12 December 2010 | Emmanuel Ogoli | 21 | Ocean Boys F.C. | Collapsed on the field and died. |
10 November 2010 | Benjamin Owusu | 21 | Cavaliers FC Parakou | Collapsed while playing and died. |
12 September 2010 | Nduka Anyanwu | 30 | SV 1920 Geinsheim | Collapsed during a league match and died. |
18 August 2010 | Victor Omogbehin | 22 | Ilford F.C. | Collapsed during a league match and died. |
8 May 2010 | Wilson Mene | 22 | Prek Pra Keila | Collapsed during a league match and died. |
8 May 2010 | Frederico da Costa Pinheiro | 26 | Mesquita | Cardiac arrest |
2 May 2010 | Ambrose Wreh | 24 | Invincible Eleven | Heart failure |
May 2010 | Goran Tunjic | 32 | Mladost FC | Heart attack |
9 April 2010 | Daniel Robert de Jesus | 28 | Irtysh Pavlodar | Heart attack |
8 March 2010 | Bartholomew Opoku | 19 | Kessben F.C. | Collapsed and died. |
6 March 2010 | Endurance Idahor | 25 | Al-Merreikh | Heart attack |
24 January 2010 | Yannick Dago | 17 | Arras Football | Heart attack |
18 November 2009 | Salem Saad | 31 | Al-Nasr | Heart attack during a training session. |
15 November 2009 | Maurizio Greco | 25 | TuS Guldenstern Stade | During the game, he collapsed and died later in the hospital. |
20 September 2009 | Neridson Estevao | 26 | Progresso de Sambizanga | He died after collapsing during a match in the second division. |
2 September 2009 | Alexandru Iatan | 19 | Dunarea Giurgiu | Cardiac arrest |
8 August 2009 | Daniel Jarque | 26 | RCD Espanyol | Cardiac arrest |
26 May 2009 | Orobosan Adun | 28 | Warri Wolves FC | Internal bleeding during a training session. |
2 April 2009 | Victor Hugo Avalos | 37 | Villa Florida | Heart attack |
15 March 2009 | Jumadi Abdi | 26 | PKT Bontang | Collapsed after an incident during the match and died due to a severe infection. |
31 May 2008 | Rustem Bulatov | 34 | Torpedo SDYuSShOR Kaluga | He died after becoming ill during a game. |
3 April 2008 | Hrvoje Custic | 24 | NK Zadar | Severe head injuries |
16 February 2008 | Herve King | 27 | Ringmer | Heart attack |
9 February 2008 | Guy Tchingoma | 22 | FC 105 Libreville | He collided with an opponent. |
29 December 2007 | Phil O’Donnell | 35 | Motherwell | Collapsed and died. |
29 August 2007 | Chaswe Nsofwa | 28 | Hapoel Be’er Sheva | Sudden heart failure. |
28 August 2007 | Antonio Puerta | 22 | Sevilla FC | After several cardiac arrests. |
19 August 2007 | Anton Reid | 16 | Walsall | Collapsed and died |
27 March 2007 | Ivan Karacic | 19 | NK Siroki Brijeg | Heart attack |
18 September 2006 | Nilton Pereira Mendes | 30 | FC Shakhter Karagandy | Collapsed on the field during a training session and died. |
9 September 2006 | Matt Gadsby | 27 | Hinckley United | A heart condition caused him to collapse on the field during a Conference. |
30 August 2006 | Mohamed Abdelwahab | 23 | Al Ahly | During a training match, he died from an undetected heart defect. |
10 August 2006 | Gokmen Yıldıran | 28 | Elazıgspor | Suffered a heart attack during training. |
12 June 2006 | Rasmus Green | 26 | Naestved BK | Heart attack |
11 April 2006 | Victor Alfonso Guerrero | 17 | Envigado F.C. | Died unexpectedly |
25 June 2005 | Hugo Cunha | 28 | U.D. Leiria | Cardiac Arrest |
27 May 2005 | Alin Paicu | 32 | Minerul Matasari | He died of a heart attack after collapsing after heading a ball. |
12 April 2005 | Paul Sykes | 28 | Folkestone Invicta | He collapsed on the field and died of an undiagnosed heart defect. |
5 December 2004 | Cristiano Junior | 24 | Dempo Sports Club | Collided with the goalkeeper and died. |
27 October 2004 | Serginho | 30 | Sao Caetano | Sudden Cardiac Arrest |
29 February 2004 | Danny Ortiz | 27 | CSD Municipal | Collided with Mario Rafael Rodriguez and died. |
25 January 2004 | Miklos Feher | 24 | Benfica | Cardiac arrest |
9 August 2003 | Ali Bakar | 55 | Malaysia and Penang | Heart attack and died |
26 June 2003 | Marc-Vivien Foe | 28 | Cameroon | Collapsed while playing in the semi-finals |
9 March 2003 | Marvin Lee | 21 | Trinidad and Tobago U20 | He died two years later after suffering neck and spinal injuries. |
12 December 2002 | Stefan Toleski | 23 | FK Napredok | Collapsed during a match on the field. |
27 October 2002 | Giovanni Cordoba | 24 | Deportivo Cali | The same lightning that killed Hernan Gaviria struck him, and he died three days later from his injuries. |
24 October 2002 | Hernan Gaviria | 32 | Deportivo Cali | Struck by lightning during a training session, and was killed instantly. |
October 2002 | Marcio dos Santos | 28 | Deportivo Wanka | Heart Attack |
20 February 2002 | Cristian Neamțu | 21 | Universitatea Craiova | Internal bleeding |
20 November 2001 | Cedric Lestic | 26 | AS Cherbourg | Heart Attack |
29 August 2001 | Serhiy Perkhun | 23 | CSKA Moscow | The brain hemorrhaged and he died eight days later. |
14 February 2001 | Roman Pavelka | 33 | SK Unicov | During physical training, he collapsed and died from a heart condition. |
5 October 2000 | Catalin Hildan | 24 | Dinamo Bucuresti | Heart Attack |
30 May 2000 | Ivan Krstic | 19 | Radnicki Nis | Struck by lightning |
21 May 2000 | Hocine Gacemi | 24 | JS Kabylie | Fractured skull after a clash of heads. |
6 May 2000 | Robert Mitwerandu | 30 | Rakow Czestochowa | Heart attack. |
2 April 2000 | Eri Irianto | 26 | Persebaya Surabaya | Heart failure after a game |
February 2000 | John Ikoroma | 17 | Al-Wahda S.C.C. | Collapsed on the pitch and died |
January 2000 | Daniel Orbeanu | 18 | Caraimanul Busteni | Infection from a simple sprain |
24 July 1999 | Ștefan Vrabioru | 23 | Astra Ploiesti | An undetected heart defect led to death. |
January 1999 | Ferenc Biro | 15 | Nirajul Miercurea-Nirajului | The crossbar fell on his head during a warmup. |
28 April 1998 | Axel Juptner | 29 | Carl Zeiss Jena | Heart attack. |
18 February 1998 | Robbie James | 40 | Llanelli A.F.C. | Cardiomyopathy. |
4 April 1997 | Waheeb Jabara | 23 | Hapoel Taibe | Heart attack. |
4 January 1997 | Hedi Berkhissa | 24 | Esperance Sportive de Tunis | Heart attack. |
29 October 1995 | Amir Angwe | 29 | Julius Berger F.C. | Heart attack. |
25 August 1995 | Michael Goddard | Dundela | Died during a game after being struck in the chest by the ball. | |
30 April 1995 | Mukandi Tsimaya | 28 | Atromitos F.C. | Elbow hit in the neck by an opponent player |
1 September 1993 | Gabor Zsiboras | 35 | MTK | Collapsed into a coma in the training session and died. |
2 February 1993 | Michael Klein | 33 | Bayer Uerdingen | Heart attack during a training session. |
8 September 1990 | David Longhurst | 25 | York City | Heart attack. |
20 April 1990 | Vagner Bacharel | 35 | Parana | Head trauma and a 180mm fracture of his left side bone and later severe cerebral edema caused his death. |
12 August 1989 | Samuel Okwaraji | 24 | Nigeria | High blood pressure. |
7 February 1989 | Sixto Rovina | 27 | Groningen | Heart attack. |
9 December 1987 | Dursun Ozbek | 17 | Galatasaray | Heart attack. |
23 August 1987 | Paulo Navalho | 20 | Atletico Clube de Portugal | Acute myocardial infarction |
15 January 1987 | Jose Antonio Gallardo | 25 | CD Malaga | Collided with an opponent and died |
23 September 1984 | Erik Jongbloed | 21 | DWS | Struck by lightning |
7 March 1982 | Carlos Alberto Barbosa | 28 | Sport | Died from infarction |
5 November 1981 | Hocine Benmiloudi | 26 | CR Belouizdad | Died during the Ligue 1 match from severe food poisoning. |
21 April 1980 | Omar Sahnoun | 24 | Bordeaux | Heart attack. |
30 October 1977 | Renato Curi | 24 | Perugia | Heart attack. |
27 August 1977 | Michel Soulier | 27 | Namur | Heart attack. |
18 May 1977 | Tony Aveyard | 21 | Scarborough | Head injuries |
14 December 1975 | Angel Aviles | Deportivo Junin | Collapsed on the field due to heart complications | |
16 December 1973 | Pavao | 26 | F.C. Porto | Heart attack |
7 January 1973 | Pedro Berruezo | 27 | Sevilla F.C. | Heart attack |
25 February 1967 | Tony Allden | Highgate United | Struck by lightning | |
1 November 1966 | Petar Radakovic | 29 | NK Rijeka | Collapsed during a training session due to a heart ailment and died |
14 July 1963 | Constantin Tabarcea | 26 | Petrolul Ploiesti | Collapsed during a match which led him to die in the thymus gland. |
4 April 1953 | John Kirkby | 23 | Wrexham | Cardiac arrest. |
1 April 1951 | Mitotonio | 35 | Ceara | Due to stomach congestion. |
20 February 1949 | Gustav Fahland | TSV Braunschweig | Internal bleeding. | |
22 March 1946 | Isaac Angulo | Alianza Lima | Collapsed and died from cardiac arrest. | |
15 May 1941 | Law Adam | 32 | Thor | Due to heart issues, which ultimately caused his death. |
14 May 1939 | Asbjorn Ronneberg | 17 | Hof IL | Heart attack during the game. |
12 November 1936 | Jorge Chavez Boza | Atletico Chalaco | Due to diabetes, his limb was amputated, which ultimately caused his death. | |
5 February 1936 | Jimmy Thorpe | 22 | Sunderland | After the game, he collapsed at home and died four days later in a hospital from diabetes mellitus and heart failure. |
10 February 1935 | Samuel Beattie | 28 | Distillery | After a head-to-head collision during a quarter-final, he died from a cerebral haemorrhage. |
3 December 1934 | Pfeiferlik | Union Zizkov | He fell and suffered from trauma, and he died on the way to the hospital. | |
1 December 1934 | Sim Raleigh | 25 | Gillingham | Died after a clash of heads |
17 June 1933 | Jon Kristbjornsson | 22 | Valur | Collided with a striker, suffered a head injury, and died. |
5 September 1931 | John Thomson | 22 | Celtic | Died after suffering a fractured skull in a match |
3 May 1927 | David Arellano | 24 | Colo-Colo | He died of internal bleeding after being hit by an opposing player during the game. |
30 April 1927 | Sam Wynne | 30 | Bury | It was a cerebral haemorrhage that caused him to collapse and die. |
4 April 1927 | Albert Van Coile | 27 | Cercle Brugge | After a collision with an opponent, he died. |
13 March 1927 | Georges Le Bidois | 26 | Stade Olympique de l’Est | He died in the locker room after receiving a violent kick to the carotid artery. |
11 November 1923 | Tom Butler | Port Vale | Eight days after breaking his arm in a match, he died of tetanus. | |
14 November 1921 | Joshua Wilkinson | 24 | Dumbarton | Two days after a game, he died from peritonitis. |
22 May 1921 | Nikola Gazdic | Hajduk Split | Late-stage tuberculosis following a game | |
7 January 1921 | Horace Fairhurst | 27 | Blackpool | Head injury |
19 February 1916 | Bob Benson | 33 | Arsenal | Blood vessel burst |
29 December 1909 | James Main | 23 | Hibernian | He passed away due to fatal stomach injuries. |
January 1908 | Frank Levick | 26 | Sheffield United | He had pneumonia after breaking his collarbone while playing against Newcastle United, and he eventually died of heart failure. |
8 April 1907 | Tommy Blackstock | 25 | Manchester United | In a game against St. Helens, he collapsed after heading a ball and died. |
27 October 1906 | David “Soldier” Wilson | 23 | Leeds City | Heart attack |
27 August 1902 | Di Jones | 35? | Manchester City | The infected knee caused death. |
January 1900 | James Collins | Sheppey United | On-field injuries led to tetanus. | |
29 November 1896 | Joe Powell | 25 | Woolwich Arsenal | After fracturing his arm during a game against Kettering Town in 1896, he had blood poisoning and tetanus. |
25 May 1896 | James Logan | 25 | Loughborough | Pneumonia (infection) while playing. |
28 March 1894 | Teddy Smith | 27 | Bedminster | Suffered a severe concussion after colliding with Eastville Rovers in the Gloucestershire Cup semi-final. He originally continued to play but was eventually forced to leave the game and died the next morning due to wounds. |
23 November 1893 | Walter Bannister | 24 | Chesterfield Town | A tackle during a game against Derby Junction caused a kidney rupture; he died almost three weeks later. |
12 November 1893 | John Henry Morris | 26 | Shrewsbury Town | Internal bleeding after a poor tackle in a heated game. The conclusion was that the death was accidental. |
11 January 1892 | James Dunlop | 21 | St Mirren | Ten days after contracting tetanus from a fall on a piece of glass during a friendly game versus Abercorn, the player passed away. |
13 January 1889 | William Cropper | 26 | Staveley | A day later, death was caused by a ruptured bowel sustained during a game versus Grimsby Town. |
What famous soccer player died recently?
Diego Maradona died in November 2020 of heart failure and pulmonary edema. He had been recovering from brain surgery at a home in the Buenos Aires suburbs, rather than a hospital, and prosecutors say Maradona’s doctors and other caregivers should have known he was in danger and done more to save him.
Has anyone ever died on the field while playing football?
FAQs about soccer players who died on the field
According to the medical examiner, former Miami Hurricanes player Sam Bruce died of a heart attack at the age of 24.
In 2020, the FIFA Sudden Death Report was released. From 2014 to 2018, the report tracked worldwide footballers’ deaths attributed to sudden cardiac arrest or other unexplained sudden death while playing (or shortly after playing). During the last five-year period, there were 617 footballers died due to heart attacks (cardiac arrest).
In young athletes, congenital heart disease is the most typical cause of sudden cardiac death. Coronary artery disease affects older athletes. The optimal way to test for risk factors is still up for debate, yet sudden cardiac death occurs seldom in athletes.
Read also: Top 10 Hottest Female Football Players In The World
Conclusion
Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. If this article helped you learn more about the soccer players who died on the field. We have compiled a list of the most heartbreaking DEATHS football has ever seen. The information was gathered from the Wikipedia updates, for our Soccer players who lost their lives during a game article. We’d like to mention that our website data is subject to change at any time, and we cannot guarantee its accuracy.