On 31 May 1975 he appeared in his last match for Las Palmas, a Copa del Rey contest against CD Málaga, contracting a viral infection shortly after and dying on 9 June at only 31 years of age in Las Palmas.
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In his 22nd and final cap, on 19 October 1972, Tonono captained Spain in a 2–2 draw against Yugoslavia for the 1974 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, in a game played in Las Palmas; he was the first player ever from the region to be selected for the national team.