But a heavy burden fell on Israeli football and sports when it was announced today (Tuesday, 20/5/2025) that the football player of the Maccabi Haifa football club and former Israeli national team player Gadi Kinda, the late 31-year-old, had passed away. Kinda had been hospitalized for several weeks at Rambam Hospital in Haifa when he fell ill with a serious illness and his medical condition was complex and difficult. In the past XNUMX hours, Kinda was transferred to "Ichlov" Hospital in Tel Aviv, where his condition worsened and deteriorated. The disease overwhelmed him and today he passed away. In the meantime, it should be noted that many of all the football teams have united and prayed with all their might for his recovery and complete healing.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club issued a statement: "Team player Gadi Rafael Kinda passed away today at the age of 31. He left behind a wife – Liran and two daughters. The Maccabi Haifa Football Club family, President Yaakov Shahar, his deputy, Uzi Mor, CEO Itzik Ovadia, employees, players and the entire team – are shocked, hurt and mourn the untimely passing of our beloved friend."
Hapoel Haifa Football Club also published today: "Hapoel Laos Media Haifa Football Club mourns the death of the late Gadi Raphael Kinda, who passed away at the age of 31. We embrace the Kinda family, may you never know sorrow again. May his memory be blessed!"
Gadi Kinda was one of the most prominent talents to emerge in Israeli football in the last decade, paving his professional path and leaving a mark – both locally and internationally. Kinda is a world of perseverance, hard work, and determination that inspires a new generation of players.
The late Gadi Kinda's last game was in the Haifa derby match held at the "Sammy Ofer" Stadium in Haifa at the end of March, when he came on as a substitute in the final minutes.
Club CEO, Itzik Ovadia: "I received the news of Gadi's passing with great pain. I knew Gadi when he was 16 years old in the youth team of MS Ashdod. Gadi was a very talented, happy, smiling boy and loved by everyone. I was filled with pride to see him progress and develop into a professional footballer in Israel, abroad and on the Israeli national team, and of course in the last two seasons at our club, Maccabi Haifa. At these moments, our hearts are with the Kinda family, with his wife Liran and his dear daughters, may his memory be blessed."
Kinda was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. When he was three years old, he immigrated to Israel with his family to Ashdod. He then began playing football in the youth department of M.S. Ashdod, and on July 30, 2011, he made his senior debut at the age of 17 and a half. That same season, he also won the State Youth Cup with the youth team, after scoring the last penalty in the final match at the end of a shootout against Maccabi Haifa.
In the 2012/2013 season, he played mainly in the youth team, scoring eight goals in the media, and in the senior team he made five appearances. In the 2013/2014 season, he became a regular player in the senior team, and on September 1, 2013, he scored his first career goal, in a 3–2 victory against Maccabi Haifa. On November 23, 2013, he received his first red card in his career, in a 0–3 loss against Hapoel Raanana. At the end of the 2014/2015 season, he was relegated with the team to the National League, after finishing last in the table. In the 2015/2016 season, he scored two goals in the National League, and helped the club qualify back to the Premier League. In the 2016/2017 season, he scored one goal in 16 appearances in the Premier League. At the beginning of the 2017/2018 season, Kinda became a key player in the team and scored four league goals, but in February 2018 he was injured and ended the season. He began the 2018/2019 season at MS Ashdod, participating in 11 games and scoring two goals.
On February 5, 2019, he signed with Beitar Jerusalem of the Premier League, for 4.5 years for approximately one million euros received by M.S. Ashdod. On February 13, 2019, he made his debut for the club in a 1–3 loss to Hapoel Be'er Sheva. On February 23, he scored his first goal for the team, in a 2–0 victory over Hapoel Ra'anana.
On January 23, 2020, he signed a four-year contract with Sporting Kansas City of the Major League Soccer (MLS). On March 1, 2020, Kinda made his debut for the American team, scoring his first goal for the team in a 3–1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps of Canada.
On January 4, 2024, he signed with Maccabi Haifa for 3.5 years.
The late Kinda also played for the Israeli youth national team, and on September 8, 2013, he made his debut for the Israeli youth national team, in a 2–7 victory against Azerbaijan. By 2016, he had made 16 appearances for the youth national team, scoring one goal.
In August 2019, he was called up to the senior Israel national team for the first time, ahead of their matches against North Macedonia and Slovenia in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, by Austrian coach Andy Herzog. On June 5, 2021, he made his senior debut for the Israel national team, scoring his debut goal in the 91st minute, in a 1–3 friendly away win against Montenegro, after coming on as a substitute.
Recently, in May 2025, the Maccabi Haifa team announced that Kinda was suffering from a complex medical condition and was hospitalized. Today, Gadi Kinda passed away at the age of only 31.
Kinda will be laid to rest tonight (Monday, May 20.5.2025, 23) at 00:XNUMX PM at the cemetery in the city of Ashdod, where he grew up. The "Hai Fe News Corporation" website shares in the grief and heavy mourning of the Kinda family and expresses its sincere condolences, Gadi Kinda may his memory be blessed!
May his memory be blessed. The world has gone mad, taking young people with it to death, murdered in terrorist attacks on this cursed day, 7.102023. Since then, there has been no end to the deaths of young people, whether it be road accidents, natural disasters. 🍄🟫 The heroes of Israel who fight Amalek. Enough of the disasters. Enough of the death, may it be replaced by good things. Long life.