Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo has died at the age of 27, just days after collapsing during a match in Brazil. This was confirmed by his Uruguayan club, Nacional, and South America’s football governing body.
Nacional expressed their deep sorrow through a social media statement, saying that Izquierdo’s death has had a profound impact, noting that “all Nacional is in grief for his irreplaceable loss.”
South America’s football governing body also paid tribute to Izquierdo shortly after he collapsed on the field. He was rushed to Hospital Albert Einstein following the incident during a Copa Libertadores match at Sao Paulo’s Morumbi Stadium last Thursday.
The hospital reported late Tuesday that Izquierdo had suffered “cardiorespiratory arrest associated with his cardiac arrhythmia.”
Earlier on Monday, doctors at the hospital indicated that Izquierdo was experiencing increased intracranial pressure and had been on a ventilator since Sunday. He had been under neurological critical care since Monday.
Uruguayan media reported that Izquierdo’s parents and Nacional executives were present at the hospital in Sao Paulo. Izquierdo was married and had two children.
Due to concerns over his health, Uruguay’s first- and second-division leagues were postponed over the weekend. During the same period, Sao Paulo players wore shirts in support of Izquierdo before their 2-1 Brazilian league victory against Vitoria on Sunday.
Izquierdo’s professional career began in 2018 with local club Cerro. He joined Peñarol the following year and later moved to Montevideo Wanderers. In 2022, he signed with Nacional, played one match, and was subsequently transferred to Liverpool FC.
He was a key player in Liverpool’s campaign that led to a Uruguayan league title in 2023, marking the club’s first title in over a century. Izquierdo returned to Nacional this year before his untimely death.
