A rising female soccer star has tragically died suddenly at just 14 years old.
Tributes have poured in from around the world following the unexpected death of Spanish under-15s star Estrella Martin.
Sporting Club de Huelva, from Andalusia, announced the death of the academy youngster.
Martin died suddenly in her hometown of Ayamonte, in southern Spain, on Wednesday, according to the club.
According to the report from local media, Estrella had a routine Tuesday training session before being found unresponsive in her home by her parents on Wednesday.
“The Sporting Club de Huelva deeply regrets to announce the death this morning of our player Estrella Martín Rasco in her native Ayamonte,” the club said in a statement.
“Belonging to our lower echelons, the soccer player, in the cadet category, and a regular in the calls for the provincial women’s under-15 team, has left us today in her hometown of Ayamonte, leaving a deep sorrow for her family, friends, and all the club.”
“Once this sad news was known, the club has suspended this week’s training sessions for the youth academy and the one that the first team was supposed to complete today,” the club continued.
“The matches of the lower ranks this week have also been postponed and the postponement of tomorrow’s League F game in Seville has also been requested.”
COMUNICADO OFICIAL
Profundo pesar en el Sporting Club de Huelva por el repentino fallecimiento de nuestra jugadora cadete Estrella Martín
🔗 https://t.co/jmW5zUOeCd pic.twitter.com/HNMsjsVy5E
— Sporting Club Huelva (@sportinghuelva) January 25, 2023
“There are no words to comfort family and friends,” said Manuela Romero, president of Sporting Huelva.
“All my support and strength for them. Fly high, Estrella.
“You will be the star that brings us always lead. RIP, little one.”
The entire Spanish football community, including the powerhouse Real Madrid, offered messages of condolence.
“Real Madrid, its president and its Board of Directors deeply regret the death of Estrella Martín, a cadet player of Sporting Club Huelva, and would like to express their condolences and affection to her family, her teammates, her club and her loved ones. Rest in peace,” the club wrote on its social media.
Real Madrid, its president and its Board of Directors deeply lament the passing of Estrella Martín, @sportinghuelva's youth-team player. The club wishes to express its condolences and affection to her family, her teammates, her club and her loved ones. Rest in peace.
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) January 26, 2023
“From #SevillaFCFem we show our deepest condolences for the death of the player Estrella Martín, sending condolences both to the player’s family and to the club, @sportinghuelva. May she rest in Peace,” wrote Sevilla FC Femenino.
Desde el #SevillaFCFem mostramos nuestro más sentido pesar por el fallecimiento de la jugadora Estrella Martín, enviando condolencias tanto a los familiares de la jugadora como al club, @sportinghuelva. Descanse en Paz. 🕯️ https://t.co/JlTQZqehvH
— Sevilla FC Femenino (@SevillaFC_Fem) January 25, 2023
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The news of the young player’s sudden death comes after another young footballer died after a sudden collapse during a game in Spain’s Malaga last month.
Thirteen-year-old Marvelous Onanefe Johnson collapsed five minutes before the end of the clash between CD Puerto Malagueño Ciudad Jardín and UD Prados in the Third Andalucian Children’s League on Sunday, December 11.
The club said at the time: “After a few moments of uncertainty for all those attending the match and club staff and after the resuscitation attempt by the local police and 061, our player could not be resuscitated.”
The death of Estrella Martín comes after three young female footballers lost their lives suddenly last year.
Stanford University’s promising young female footballer Katie Meyer died at the age of 22 due to an apparent suicide on Monday, February 28, 2022.
Then in April 2022, young goalkeeper Dominyka Podziute, a former player for both Newcastle United Women and Hartlepool United Women, died suddenly aged 21.
A few months later, Marvel Simiyu, a young footballer playing in Kenya’s Women’s Premier League, died suddenly on Tuesday, June 14.
Estrella Martin’s cause of death has not been revealed.
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