Macedonia - Midfielder Andrej Lazarov, 25, died while saving people from a nightclub fire that killed at least 55 people in Kočani, North Macedonia, on March 16.
Macedonian First Division FC Shkupi announced the incident on Facebook "with immense sadness". The club said Lazarov died of smoke inhalation while trying to save others in the nightclub. The team credited him with showing "courage and kindness until the very last moment".
"His heroic actions will be remembered forever as a testament to his noble character and kind heart. This is a huge loss for the club, his teammates and the entire football community. No words can describe the pain we are feeling," the statement said.
The midfielder had been with FC Shkupi for six months.
According to North Macedonia's Interior Minister, the fire broke out at the Pulse nightclub in the town of Kočani at around 3:00 a.m. local time on March 16. At least 59 people were killed, and more than 155 others were injured, BBC reported.
The fire was determined to have been caused by sparks from fireworks during a concert at a nightclub where local pop group ADN was performing, according to the North Macedonian newspaper Večer and the AP. The fire was one of the worst in the country in recent years. North Macedonia's prime minister called it a tragedy.