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The widow of Jose Antonio Reyes has previously revealed the final message she received from her husband just hours before his devastating death. The Arsenal hero was killed in a car crash, aged 35, alongside his 23-year-old cousin Jonathan Reyes in June 2019.

The former Gunners star was a key member of the legendary Invincibles squad that secured the Premier League title in 2004. He was then sold to Atletico Madrid in 2007, where he won the Europa League twice, and two of his former clubs are due to face one another in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

Off the pitch, Reyes married Noelia Lopez in 2017 and the couple had two daughters together. The Spain international also had a son from a previous relationship, Jose Antonio Jr, who is currently part of Real Madrid's academy.

Several months after her husband's passing, Lopez shared a screenshot of the last message she had received from him. Still saved as 'Papi Amor' in her contacts, he had sent the WhatsApp at 7.43am on the morning of his death.

Translated from Spanish, the heartbreaking message read: "Good morning mommy I love you guys."

Later that same year, Lopez also discovered an old Valentine's Day note from her partner, in which Reyes had written: "Happy Valentine's Day. I won't forget you even from a distance."

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Reyes died with his cousin Jonathan when his Mercedes Brabus S550 crashed on the A-376 motorway in southern Spain. Another of the footballer's cousins, Juan Manuel Calderon, sustained severe burns but survived the crash.

Lopez described her husband as the "love of my life" and delivered a heartfelt tribute shortly before his funeral in June 2019. She said: "We will always think of you and you will live on forever in our hearts. You've given us the best life and you leave the best memories.

"You will look at me in Noelia's eyes and you will smile with me in Triana's smile. I love you and will love you for ever."

As a footballer, Reyes began his career with hometown club Sevilla, and his impressive performances prompted a transfer to Arsenal midway through their unbeaten season in January 2004, where he made 13 appearances to secure a Premier League medal.

He also claimed the 2005 FA Cup and featured in the 2006 Champions League final, accumulating 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 crossing the city to sign for Atletico permanently in 2007. The winger returned to Sevilla in January 2012, remaining there until 2016 and winning three Europa League titles.

Ahead of Arsenal's clash with Sevilla in 2023, manager Mikel Arteta fondly recalled the time spent alongside his former Spain Under-21 team-mate. He said of Reyes: "I have great memories. He was my roommate and we spent quite a lot of time together.

"He was a fantastic character with a very special personality and had an incredible football talent. At that age, I can't recall a better player than him, he had everything. He played for [Arsenal and Sevilla] and he is part of our history in a big way because he was part of the Invincibles as well."