Former Arsenal star Jose Antonio Reyes married Noelia Lopez in 2017 (Image: Getty Images)
Jose Antonio Reyes’ widow previously revealed the last message she received from her husband hours before his shocking death. The Arsenal hero died at the age of 35 in a car crash in June 2019, along with his 23-year-old cousin Jonathan Reyes.
The former Gunners star was a key member of the legendary Invincibles team that won the Premier League title in 2004. He was then sold to Atlético Madrid in 2007, where he won the Europa League twice, and his two former clubs will meet in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.
Off the pitch, Reyes married Noelia López in 2017 and the couple had two daughters. The Spain international also has a son, Jose Antonio Junior, from a previous relationship, who is currently in Real Madrid’s youth team.
Months after her husband’s death, Lopez shared a screenshot of the last message she received from him. Still saved in her contacts as ‘Papi Amor’, he had sent her a WhatsApp at 7:43am on the morning of his death.
The heartbreaking message, translated from Spanish, read: “Good morning mom, I love you guys.”
Later that year, Lopez also discovered an old Valentine’s Day note from her partner, in which Reyes had written, “Happy Valentine’s Day. I’ll never forget you from afar.”
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Reyes died along with his cousin Jonathan when his Mercedes Brabus S550 crashed on the A-376 motorway in southern Spain. Another cousin of the soccer player, Juan Manuel Calderon, survived the accident, although he suffered severe burns.
Lopez called her husband “the love of her life” and gave a heartfelt eulogy just before his funeral in June 2019. “We will always think of you and you will live forever in our hearts. You have given us the best life and left us with the best memories.”
“You will look at me with Noelia’s eyes and smile with me with Triana’s smile. I love you and will love you forever.”
Reyes won the Premier League with Arsenal in 2004. (Image: Getty Images)
As a footballer, Reyes began his career with local club Sevilla, where his impressive performances prompted a move to Arsenal midway through an unbeaten season in January 2004, where he made 13 appearances and won a Premier League medal.
He also won the FA Cup in 2005 and appeared in the Champions League final in 2006, making 110 appearances for the club.
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Reyes returned to Spain after joining Real Madrid on loan, where he won La Liga before moving across town to sign a permanent contract with Atlético in 2007. The winger returned to Sevilla in January 2012 and remained with Sevilla until 2016, winning the Europa League three times.
Ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Sevilla in 2023, manager Mikel Arteta fondly recalled the time he spent with his former Spain Under-21 team-mate. “I have great memories of Reyes. He was my roommate and we spent quite a bit of time together,” he said of Reyes.
“He was a great person with a very special personality, an incredible footballing talent. I can’t remember a better player at that age. He had it all. He played for[Arsenal and Sevilla]and was part of the Invincibles, so he’s part of our history in a big way.”
