Uruguayan Footballer Juan Izquierdo Dies at 27 Following Collapse on Pitch

Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo has died at the age of 27, five days after collapsing on the pitch.

Izquierdo, a defender for Uruguayan club Nacional, fell unconscious during a Copa Libertadores match at São Paulo’s Morumbi Stadium last Thursday.

Izquierdo, who had replaced Sebastián Coates at halftime, collapsed in the 84th minute without any contact from another player.

Medical staff quickly attended him, and he was transported to Hospital Albert Einstein in São Paulo. The hospital reported that he passed away due to “cardiorespiratory arrest associated with his cardiac arrhythmia.”

Izquierdo was married and had two children, the youngest of whom was born earlier this month. His club, Club Nacional de Football, expressed their grief: “It is with deepest pain and shock in our hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved player Juan Izquierdo.

We sincerely condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones. All of Nacional is mourning his irreparable loss. RIP. Juan, you will be with us forever.”

Tributes have poured in, including former Barcelona and Liverpool striker Luis Suárez, who wrote: “May he rest in peace. I wish a lot of strength for his family and friends.”

Uruguay’s first and second-division league matches were postponed following Izquierdo’s collapse. São Paulo players wore shirts in support of Izquierdo before their 2-1 Brazilian league victory against Vitória on Sunday.

The Brazilian club stated: “We had days of prayers, union, and hope, and today, we are in deep sadness with the news of Juan Izquierdo’s death.

Our condolences to the family, friends, teammates, Nacional fans, and all the Uruguayan people in this moment of grief.”