- Following a collapse during a football match, regrettably, Uruguayan player Izquierdo passed away.
A few days after suffering a collapse during a Copa Libertadores match in Brazil, 27-year-old Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo sadly passed away. His club, Nacional, announced that the cause of death was cardiac arrest, as reported by doctors at the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo. This tragic event occurred on Tuesday evening at 21:38 local time.
In the 84th minute of the return leg against São Paulo FC last Thursday, Izquierdo stumbled and collapsed off the ball. He lost consciousness and had to be transported off the pitch in an ambulance. The hospital subsequently diagnosed him with cardiac arrhythmia. On Tuesday evening...
A dreadful day for football
Izquierdo's death is described as an "irreparable loss" by Nacional on their X platform. "Juan, you will always be with us." São Paulo FC echoed these sentiments, agreeing that it was a devastating day for football. Alejandro Domínguez, president of the South American football confederation CONMEBOL, extended his sympathies to Izquierdo's club and family. "South American football is grieving."
Izquierdo started his first-division career with Club Atlético Cerro in 2018. Since then, he has played for Nacional, with a brief interruption, appearing in 33 games and scoring two goals.
Leaving behind a sorrowful family, Izquierdo is survived by his wife Selene and their two children, with the second child having been born just days before Izquierdo's collapse, as confirmed by Nacional president Alejandro Balbi.
São Paulo emerged victorious in the match with a 2:0 scoreline, securing their advancement to the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores. This prestigious South American tournament is analogous to the Champions League in Europe.
The announcement of Izquierdo's passing unexpectedly cast a shadow over the Copa Libertadores, turning it into a tragedy-filled competition. His team, Nacional, and rivals São Paulo FC, both agreed that this was a terrible day for the world of football.
