His death was confirmed on Tuesday, May 20, just two weeks after the Israeli Premier League side confirmed that he had been hospitalised with health problems.
His last appearance for the club came on March 29 this year. Kinda also represented Israel at the international level, earning 10 caps. Among his international highlights was a match against Portugal, where he shared the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo. In a statement on X, his domestic team wrote a message, translated as follows 👇
Maccabi Haifa Football Club mourns the death of the team's player, Gadi Raphael Kinda. The Maccabi Haifa family comforts the Kinda family and prays that they will not know any more sorrow."
Gadi Kinda: A career across continents Born in Ethiopia and raised in Israel from the age of three, Kinda began his football journey with FC Ashdod’s youth academy and made his senior debut at 17. He later played for Beitar Jerusalem before making a move to the United States, where he starred in Major League Soccer (MLS) for Sporting Kansas City. Between 2020 and 2023, he played four seasons with Sporting KC, notching 16 goals and 17 assists in 80 appearances. Kinda missed the 2022 season due to injury but remained a key figure for the club when fit.
Sporting Kansas City paid tribute to their former player in a heartfelt statement:👇
We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gadi Kinda. Our hearts are with Gadi’s family, his friends, teammates, and all who knew him."
Major League Soccer also released a statement after news of Kinda's tragic death broke online: “During his four seasons with Kansas City from 2020 to 2023, Gadi was a fan favourite - not just for his exceptional talent on the pitch, but for his passion, kindness, and generosity toward everyone around him. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, fans, and the entire Sporting Kansas City community.”
As reported by Mirror Football, Kinda's passing marks a tragic end to a career full of promise and passion, and he is remembered not just for his talent but for the grace and humility he brought to the game. In the attacking midfield role, per Transfermarkt, he scored two goals in 10 appearances for Israel. Overall, he made 344 appearances at the domestic and international level, with 41 goals and 42 assists.
