Juan Izquierdo Obituary, Death; – Uruguayan soccer player Juan Izquierdo passed away on Tuesday at a hospital in Brazil, five days after he collapsed during a match in Sao Paulo. He was 27 years old.
The Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo released a statement indicating that the Nacional defender succumbed to “cardiorespiratory arrest associated with his cardiac arrhythmia” at 9:38 p.m. local time.
Izquierdo was admitted to the hospital following his collapse during a Copa Libertadores match between Nacional and Sao Paulo at Morumbi Stadium in the Brazilian city last Thursday.
The Uruguayan club expressed its sorrow on social media, stating that Izquierdo’s death has left them “in deep pain and impact in our hearts,” and that “all Nacional is in grief for his irreplaceable loss.”
CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American soccer, also paid tribute. President Alejandro Domínguez expressed his profound sorrow over the untimely passing of Juan Izquierdo, stating, “South American soccer is in mourning.” Other football federations, including those from Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina, conveyed their condolences as well.
In a statement released on Monday, the medical team at the hospital reported that Izquierdo had been placed in neurological critical care due to increased intracranial pressure and had been on a ventilator since Sunday.
Uruguayan media outlets reported that Izquierdo’s parents and Nacional executives were present at the Sao Paulo hospital. He was married and a father of two, with his youngest child, a son, born earlier in August.
Players from the Uruguayan national team were among those who expressed their sympathies. Inter Miami striker Luis Suárez remarked, “Pain, sadness, it is hard to explain. May he rest in peace. I wish a lot of strength for his family and friends.”
In light of Izquierdo’s health concerns, both the first and second divisions of Uruguayan soccer postponed their matches last weekend. Players from Sao Paulo donned shirts in support of the Uruguayan footballer prior to their 2-1 victory against Vitoria in the Brazilian league on Sunday. The Brazilian club also issued a message following Izquierdo’s passing, stating, “We had days of prayers, unity.”
