Footballers who died on the pitch: Soccer players who lost their lives during a match
Football consistently provides us with life-changing moments, triumphs, and happiness. But it also contains poignant and sombre scenes at times. Here is a rundown of some of the most tragic football-related deaths in recent history. Footballers who died on the pitch will always be remembered.
Source: UGC
Midfielder Christian Eriksen, one of the footballers who almost died on the pitch, fainted during their match against Finland in the opening round of Euro 2020 Group B. on June 12. However, according to Uefa, after receiving CPR from field medics, Eriksen was taken to a hospital where he was stabilised and, according to officials, was awake and responsive.
Has any footballer ever died on the pitch?
Unfortunately, many athletes have passed away playing the game they love. The following is a list of soccer players who lost their lives during a match.
Antonio Puerta
Source: Getty Images
On the 28th of August 2007, three days after participating in a league game between Sevilla and Getafe, the Sevilla player tragically passed away. He passed out on the field and had to be taken out of the game for a replacement. Although he regained consciousness and could walk off the field alone, he passed away from postanoxic encephalopathy after passing out in the locker room.
Peter Biaksangzuala
On October 19, 2014, a 23-year-old midfielder for the Indian club Bethlehem Vengthlang tragically lost his life after attempting a backflip celebrating a goal.
Cristian Gomez
On May 24, 2015, while competing for Atletico Parana against Boca Unidos, the 27-year-old football player fainted and died in the middle of the match.
Miklos Feher
Source: Getty Images
Feher passed away on January 25, 2004, at the young age of 24. He had been playing for Benfica versus Vitoria de Guimaraes. Feher started to hike and try to keep playing but eventually fainted on the field. A pulmonary artery occlusion led to his death.
Alen Panic
On June 22nd, 2013, Panic had a heart attack while playing a friendly match against Istra in Maruzni. Although he had a history of heart issues and had passed out on the field before, the doctors decided to allow him to keep playing. However, he was unable to persevere and passed away.
Piermario Morosini
Source: Getty Images
On April 14, 2012, while watching Livorno play Pescara, Morosini collapsed and died of a heart attack. Even though Morosini was rushed to the hospital in a life-threatening condition, doctors could not save his life.
Jose Antonio Gallardo
The Celta Vigo vs Malaga match resulted in a head injury for Gallardo. The keeper made a full recovery, but the bang left him in a coma 17 days later. Later that month, on January 8, 1988, he passed away.
Marcio Dos Santos
Source: Getty Images
In 2002, on October 28th, not long after appearing in a game between Deportivo Wanka and Alianza Lima, he passed away. Marcio scored the game-winning goal. He had been feeling under the weather leading up to the game, so his doctor gave him some painkillers. Unfortunately, he had a heart attack and passed away in the club's hotel.
Serhiy Perkhun
Serhiy Perkhun, the goalie for CSKA Moscow, suffered a severe blow when he collided with an opposing player on August 29, 2001, and remained in a coma for the next ten days before passing away.
Phil O’Donnell
Source: Getty Images
Motherwell's captain, Phil O' Donnel, collapsed and died from heart failure in a December 2007 game against Dundee United. The 35-year-old midfielder played for several teams during his stellar career, including Scotland, Celtic, and Sheffield Wednesday. However, he collapsed when his replacement was ready to be made.
Cristiano Jr.
The death of Junior was shocking and shockingly awful. Before the 2003 Indian National Football League season, Cristiano Sebastio de Lima Junior moved to India and joined East Bengal.
He played for East Bengal and had a fantastic season before signing with Dempo of Goa. Then, in October of 2004, when playing Mohun Bagan, the goalkeeper tried to score his second goal after chasing the ball into the box and clashed with the opposing goalkeeper. He stayed in one place the whole time. At 25, Cristiano passed away without medical personnel on the field or in the stadium to help him.
Marc-Vivien Foe
Source: Getty Images
The Cameroonian professional footballer passed away on June 26, 2003, after collapsing during his team's semi-final match against Colombia at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. He was one of the famous footballers who died on the pitch,
Samuel Okwaraji
This Nigerian player died on August 12, 1989, at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos State, after collapsing in the 77th minute due to congestive heart failure during a World Cup qualification match against Angola. Before his untimely demise, he had also completed his Master of Laws degree at the University of Rome.
Moise Brou Apanga
Source: Getty Images
The football defender, born in Ivory Coast and played for FC 105 Libreville in Gabon, passed away on April 26, 2017, after suffering a heart attack during a training session with his club team.
Ben Idrissa Derme
He represented Burkina Faso on the international stage as a footballer, playing the centre-half position. Unfortunately, he suffered a heart attack on September 11, 2016, while competing in the 2016–17 Coupe de France tournament, and he passed on the following day.
David Faramola Oniya
The Nigerian football player was a member of the T-Team club, which competed in the Malaysia Premier League. On June 13, 2015, he passed away after falling on the field in Malaysia during a friendly match between his club and Kelantan. The match was played in Malaysia.
Patrick Claude Ekeng Ekeng
Source: Getty Images
He was a member of the Cameroonian national team and played the position of a defensive midfielder. He lived in Switzerland, Spain, and Romania for relatively short periods. He died in Romania on May 6, 2016, after collapsing during a match for Dinamo București.
Emmanuel Ogoli
He was a left-back for a Nigerian professional football team and was originally from Nigeria. The athlete, who had previously played for Bayelsa United and Ocean Boys, passed away in the hospital a few hours after collapsing on the field during a game for Ocean Boys on December 12, 2010.
Endurance Idahor
Source: Getty Images
Endurance Idahor was a Nigerian football player who was a member of the Al-Merreikh team that competed in Sudan. Unfortunately, on March 6th, 2010, Idahor passed away while being transported to the hospital after collapsing during a league game.
Victor Omogbehin
On August 18, 2010, the Nigerian player, who was 22 years old, passed out during a league encounter. He participated in the Isthmian Football League match between Ilford F.C. and Lowestoft Town F.C., which Ilford F.C hosted.
Cheick Tiote
Source: Getty Images
Cheick Ismael Tioté was a football player from Ivory Coast who played a defensive midfielder position. His early training took place at the F.C. Bibo in his hometown of Yamoussoukro, and he made his professional-level debut in 2005 with Anderlecht of Belgium.
He passed away on June 5th, 2017, while practising with his new team in Beijing, China. It is believed that he suffered a heart arrest during the workout.
Which footballer died in a match?
Local media said on Saturday that Sofiane Loukar, an Algerian football player, had a heart attack and died after colliding with his goalie during a match in Oran's second division.
Has anyone ever died during a soccer game?
Piermario Morosini, a midfielder for Livorno, died on Saturday after collapsing on the field due to cardiac arrest during his team's Serie B match at Pescara. Morosini had previously played for the Italy Under-21 national team. He was 25.
Footballers who died on the pitch have caused actual football fans pain. Deaths, especially on the field of play, are the most heartbreaking experience for footballers. But, unfortunately, the sports world at large would never like to encounter it, despite football being the most loved sport in the world.
READ ALSO: Cristiano Ronaldo's net worth, contract, Instagram, salary, house, wife, cars, age, stats, transfer news
Legit.ng recently published an article about Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese international footballer is a former Juventus and Real Madrid striker and currently plays as a forward for Manchester United.
It is incredible to watch a 37-year-old athlete in the prime of his career as he continues to shatter records and establish new ones. In addition, he is the most followed celebrity on Instagram. Click on the link above to find out Ronaldo's net worth.
Source: Legit.ng
