Gadi Kinda, former Maccabi Haifa and Sporting Kansas City midfielder, dies at 31.

Israeli footballer Gadi Kinda died this Tuesday at the age of 31 due to a serious illness that had recently affected him. The midfielder played for Ashdod, Beitar Jerusalem, Sporting Kansas City in the United States, and Maccabi Haifa, in addition to making 10 appearances for the Israeli national team.

"Israeli football has lost not only a talented player, but also a beloved and respected person," reads a post published Tuesday by the Israel Football Federation on X. His last game for Maccabi was on March 29 in the Haifa derby, after which he was hospitalized for a "complex medical situation." A week ago, from the hospital, he posted a video of himself speaking with a rabbi and asking people to pray for him.

Kinda had two daughters, the last born in the summer of 2024. Born in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia , to Jewish parents, Kinda immigrated to Israel with his family as a child.

Sporting Kansas City players posed with Kinda's jersey before the team's match against the Portland Timbers on May 10. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Gadi Kinda," Sporting Kansas City wrote on social media. "Our hearts go out to Gadi's family, his friends, teammates, and all who knew him."

Kinda scored 14 goals in 64 MLS appearances (48 starts) for Sporting Kansas City (2020-23). ​​During his four seasons with Kansas City, from 2020 to 2023, Gadi was a fan favorite for his exceptional play on the field, his passion for the game, his caring spirit, and his generosity to those around him, MLS wrote on social media.