Juan Izquierdo, a 27-year-old soccer player, died just days after suddenly collapsing during a match in Brazil.
His Uruguayan club, Nacional, confirmed the sad news.
Translation from Google Translate:
With the deepest pain and impact in our hearts, el Club Nacional de Football announces the death of our beloved player Juan Izquierdo.
We express our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and relatives.
All of Nacional is mourning his irreparable loss.
RIP. Juan, you will be with us forever.
Con el más profundo dolor e impacto en nuestros corazones, el Club Nacional de Football comunica el fallecimiento de nuestro querido jugador Juan Izquierdo.
— Nacional (@Nacional) August 28, 2024
Expresamos nuestras más sinceras condolencias a su familia, amigos, colegas y allegados.
Todo Nacional está de luto por… pic.twitter.com/mYU28mqw6m
According to ESPN, Izquierdo collapsed on the field last Thursday during a Copa Libertadores match at Morumbi Stadium in São Paulo. He was immediately transported to Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, where he was admitted to intensive care.
According to an update from the hospital, Izquierdo was admitted on August 22, 2024, after suffering cardiac arrest caused by an arrhythmia. He was resuscitated and transferred to the ICU, where he was sedated, placed on mechanical ventilation, and received neurological care.
The following day, doctors reported his cardiac arrhythmia had stabilized, and he would remain under observation for at least 72 hours. However, his condition worsened on August 25, with tests revealing increased brain involvement and intracranial pressure. He remained in neurological intensive care, and was still dependent on mechanical ventilation.
The hospital released a statement late Tuesday revealing that Izquierdo had suffered “cardiorespiratory arrest associated with his cardiac arrhythmia.”
From ESPN:
Izquierdo’s career included spells at Cerro, Peñarol, Wanderers and Liverpool in Uruguay. He also played for Liga MX‘s San Luis.
The Uruguayan Football Association said the news was deeply painful, while the national governing bodies of Argentina, Peru, Paraguay and Colombia extended their condolences to Izquierdo’s family and friends.
Brazilian Football Federation President Ednaldo Rodrigues said a minute’s silence would be observed in every match organised by the federation on Wednesday.
Sao Paulo said they were deeply saddened by the news, calling it a “sad day for football”.
