The football community in South America is in mourning following the tragic death of Uruguayan defender Juan Izquierdo, who passed away after collapsing on the pitch during a Copa Libertadores match. The 27-year-old, who played for Uruguay’s Nacional, suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest due to a cardiac arrhythmia during a game last week.
Izquierdo collapsed unexpectedly on the field and was rushed to Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Despite the medical team’s efforts, he passed away at 9:38 p.m. local time on Tuesday (0038 GMT Wednesday). His club, Nacional, confirmed the cause of death as cardiorespiratory arrest linked to the irregular heartbeat, citing the doctors’ report from the hospital.
Nacional expressed their grief over Izquierdo’s death, calling it an “irreparable loss” in a post on social media platform X. The club’s message was met with an outpouring of support and condolences from fans and fellow football clubs across the continent.
Alejandro Domínguez, the president of the South American football association CONMEBOL, also extended his condolences to Izquierdo’s family and his club. “South American football is in mourning,” Domínguez said, acknowledging the impact of the young player’s sudden passing on the football community.
Juan Izquierdo began his professional football career in 2018 with Club Atlético Cerro in Uruguay’s first division before transferring to Nacional in 2022. During his time with Nacional, he played 33 matches and scored two goals, earning respect and admiration for his contributions on the field.
The match in which Izquierdo collapsed saw São Paulo win 2-0, allowing them to progress to the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores. However, the game’s result has been overshadowed by the tragic loss of the talented young player, whose death has sent shockwaves through the football world.
