The football world is in mourning after reports confirmed that Javier Dorado Bielsa (Talavera de la Reina, 1977), a former player for Real Madrid, Mallorca, and Sporting de Gijón, among other Spanish clubs, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 46 following a long battle with cancer, as reported by Cadena SER Baleares.

Career in Spanish Football

Dorado began his career in Real Madrid’s youth academy, making his first-team debut in 1999 in a Copa del Rey match against Valencia. During the 1999-2000 season, he played seven matches, accumulating over 400 minutes under the management of Vicente del Bosque, and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Champions League in Paris against Valencia.

After his time at Real Madrid, the defender played on loan for Salamanca and Sporting de Gijón before signing with Rayo Vallecano in 2002. He later returned to Sporting, where he spent three seasons, before joining Mallorca in 2006, marking his return to LaLiga.

He retired from professional football in 2012 after a final stint with Atlético Baleares, competing in Spain’s third division (Segunda B).

Battle with Cancer

Since 2022, Javier Dorado fought a tough battle against cancer, undergoing several treatments. In May 2024, he underwent a bone marrow transplant at Hospital Son Espases in Mallorca.

In an interview with El Comercio, he shared his hopes of overcoming the disease: "I hope this nightmare finally comes to an end, so we can move forward and be at peace. I've been fighting for years, and the harsh treatments take their toll, but I try to live a normal life."

Rest in peace.