Football is a lucrative profession, but can also be a double-edged razor. For athletes with substandard physiques and health, a collision on the field could put their life in jeopardy. Throughout the years, the world of football has witnessed many heartbreaking deaths that happened right on the field during the match. While a majority of on-field deaths stem from cardiac arrest and heart attack, some others just happen mysteriously. No matter what the reason is, fans have always mourned the loss of such ill-fated footballers. Below, we take a look at the football stars who tragically died on the pitch while playing.

Born on 26 November 1984, Antonio Puerta was an excellent football player from Spain. He served as a left midfielder and sometimes an attacking left back. Unfortunately, the player from Sevilla passed away on August 28, 2007, three days after taking part in a league match between Sevilla and Getafe.

After the collapse, Antonio lost consciousness during the game and had to be replaced. Even though he regained consciousness and was able to leave the field on his own, he later lost it again in the locker room and passed away from a postanoxic encephalopathy in the hospital.

Miklos Feher, who was once a striker representing Hungary's national team at the international level, was born on 20 July 1979. He made his debut in 1998 at the age of 19. Many of his achievements include the titles Footballer of the Year in Hungary and Portuguese Super Cup Winner in FC Porto, both in 2000.

Feher died on January 25, 2004, at the age of 24, while playing for Benfica against Vitoria de Guimaraes. The 24-year-old striker started to walk slowly and attempted to continue playing before collapsing on the field. Because of a pulmonary embolism, he passed away despite being rushed to hospital.

A Cameroonian footballer who played as defensive midfield for both his club and his national team, Marc-Vivien Foe was born on May 1, 1975. He rose to fame as one of the best defenders in the French Division 1 and the English Premier League. However, when Foe was at his peak, he suffered a horrific tragedy on the pitch.

On June 26, 2003, Foe shockingly passed away while playing for Cameroon against Columbia in France. He was 26 years old. Due to an inflammation of the right ventricle, he suffered a heart attack and passed out unexpectedly on the field.

The midfielder of Italian football, Piermario Morosini, was born on 5 July 1986. Morosini was not a superstar, and neither was he a household name plying his trade in the top tier of the Italian footballing pyramid. Throughout Morosini's short-lived career, he mainly played for low-tier Italian clubs such as Vicenzo, Padova, and Livorno.

Morosini passed away on April 14, 2012, after having a heart attack during a Serie B match between Livorno and Pescara. When the ill-fated footballer was brought to the hospital in a serious condition, nothing could be done to save his life. Following his heartbreaking death, Livorno and Vicenza decided they would retire the number 25, the number Morosini wore whilst their player.

Born on 31 December 1961, Jose Antonio Gallardo was a goalkeeper from Spain. He was a member of team Atletico Malagueño from 1979 to 1984 before joining Málaga and making his professional debut. He played just once in the 1985–86 season, a 1–1 tie at Cartagena FC on May 18 in the final Segunda División game.

Unfortunately, on 21 December 1986, in a 3–2 loss to RC Celta de Vigo at Balaídos, Gallardo suffered a head injury after a collision with opposing striker Baltazar. The keeper made a full recovery, but the bang caused him to go into a coma 17 days later. He died just a week later, on January 8, 1988.

Born on 10 December 1973, Marcio Dos Santos is remembered as the Deportivo Wanka team’s forward. He joined Deportivo Pereira of Colombia in 1998 before signing with Alianza Lima in Peru in 1999. He then went through stints with Deportivo Pasto, Deportivo Wanka in Peru, Chile team Rangers, and went back to Deportivo Wanka.

Marcio tragically passed away on October 28, 2002, not long after appearing in a match between Alianza Lima and Deportivo Wanka. Marcio's team's winning goal was scored by him. He hadn't been feeling well before the game, so his doctor gave him medicine for a headache. Finally, he suffered a heart attack and passed away in the club's hotel.

Born on 15 October 1989, Pamic Alen still committed his life time to a football career although he had previously had some heart issues. After many years of devotion, Alen played for several small clubs such as Karlovac, Rijeka, Standard Liège, Istra, and the national team Croatia U19 and Croatia U20.

Sadly, on June 22, 2013, Pamic Alen suffered a heart attack while playing a friendly against NK Istra at Maruzni. He had a long history of cardiac difficulties, and this wasn't the first time he'd collapsed on the field, but the doctors let him continue playing. On this occasion, though, he was unable to continue and passed away.

An Ivory Coast international, Cheick Tiote rose to fame as one of the most stable defensive midfielders in Premiere League. At Newcastle United, Titote, with his iconic combative and aggressive style, became a legend after playing 138 league games.

After years of playing for Newcastle, the Ivorian midfielder moved to Beijing Enterprises Group in 2017 and became one of the first stars to sign for the Chinese League. Sadly, after fainting during a regular training session on a Monday morning, Tiote died while being rushed to hospital.

Born in 1991, Peter Biaksangzuala was a native of the eastern town of Khawzawl, played in the midfield position for the Mizoram Premier League club Bethlehem Vengthlang FC. He could handle both defensive and midfield roles due to his experience on the semi-professional level. Peter also signed with then reigning champions Dinthar FC. He moved briefly to a Shillong team before entering the MPL again, joining BVT this season. The 23-year-old midfielder died on October 19, 2014, after experiencing severe injury to his dorsal spine while attempting to celebrate with a backflip after scoring a goal.

Serhiy Perkhun, born on 4 September 1977, was a footballer from Ukraine. With his talent, he played an important role in FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and became a first-choice goalkeeper for Sheriff Tiraspol and CSKA Moscow.

The rising goalkeeper shockingly died on August 29, 2001, ten days after going into a coma as a result of a severe head injury sustained during an unintentional collision with a rival player. He is the only player in the history of the Russian Premier League to have passed away as a result of injuries received while participating in an official match.