Christian Atsu, Marc Vivien Foe, Emiliano Sala and Top 5 Footballers Who Met Tragic Deaths

• Christian Atsu's sudden demise left football in a state of shock
• The Ghanaian is a reminder of the fleeting nature of human life
• Sports Brief takes a look at football stars who met tragic deaths

The inevitability of death is a cold truth which stares at the living - it can be sad or frightening; it can be weird and even funny.

In fact, nothing resonates more than the evergreen reminder from the famous American diplomat Benjamin Franklin.

According to him, nothing was certain except death and taxes.

On February 18, the global football world was left heartbroken with the crushing news of footballer, Christian Atsu's death.

The former Newcastle United man, who last played for Hatayspor, was killed during the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake at only 31 years old.

Christian Atsu: Pitso Mosimane pays tribute to late Ghana Black Star

Football

This isn't the first time such an unfortunate incident has occurred to a footballer.

Sports Brief looks at a list of players who met tragic fates.

Christian Atsu

Affable, altruistic and awesomely talented, Atsu met his untimely death during the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck Turkey and Syria.

He was found dead on February 18 under his residence in southern Turkey. He and other club representatives had been missing for almost two weeks after the building collapsed.

His final remains have been returned to his native Ghana amid an outpouring of grief and tributes from all quarters of the world.

Atsu's last contribution as a footballer was a last-ditch free kick for Hatayspor in the Turkish Super Lig.

Senzo Meyiwa

Senzo was a South African professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper and captain for both Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana.

At his girlfriend’s house in south Johannesburg, he was shot by two men.

Ghana footballer Atsu found dead in Turkey quake rubble

Football

They have been charged with premeditated murder, among a raft of charges. Interestingly, all men involved in the case have pleaded not guilty, per Timeslive.

The 27 year-old was part of the Orlando Pirates squad that won back-to-back South African Premier Soccer League titles between 2010 and 2012.

Emiliano Sala

One of the most harrowing deaths that shocked the football landscape was the demise of Emiliano Sala.

According to Guardian, the Argentinian striker was being flown from Nantes in France to join his new club, Cardiff City, on the evening of January 21, 2019.

However, the single-engine Piper Malibu aircraft plunged into the Channel north of Guernsey during a patch of bad weather.

His body was recovered from the seabed 68 metres down. The body of the pilot, David Ibbotson from Lincolnshire, was not found.

Marc-Vivien Foe

The former Manchester City and Cameroonian midfielder's passing was felt in all corners of the globe and left football in a state of shock back in 2003.

Video: Christian Atsu's wife breaks down in tears during tribute for late player at St James' Park

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Playing in the semi-final of the Confederations Cup in 2003, Marc-Vivien Foe collapsed to the ground and never got up.

It was later revealed that his death was due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

He was an imposing, powerful midfielder who was central to Cameroon’s back-to-back African Cup of Nations titles at the turn of the millennium.

Gary Speed

Gary Speed was a decorated Welsh footballer who died under controversial circumstances in 2011.

On November 27, 2011, his wife found his body hanging from the garage ceiling of their house in Cheshire, England.

Although the facts were not fully established, it was reported that Speed had taken his life.

Pastor calls Atsu's death unnatural

Sports Brief earlier reported on Ghanaian actor Majid Michel believing footballer, Atsu died before his time.

The veteran actor, who doubles as a pastor, insists the player's death was unnatural and does not believe 'God gives and God takes'.

In an interview with Accra-based radio station Hitz FM, Michel referenced the biblical figure of Job to make his point.