Uruguayan defender Juan Izquierdo dies after collapsing during match
Uruguay club Nacional says Juan Izquierdo has died, days after collapsing during a game in Brazil
Uruguayan soccer player Juan Izquierdo passed away on Tuesday at a hospital in Brazil, just five days after collapsing during a game in São Paulo. He was 27 years old.
Hospital Albert Einstein in São Paulo announced that Izquierdo died at 9:38 p.m. local time due to “cardiorespiratory arrest linked to his cardiac arrhythmia.”
Izquierdo collapsed late in a Copa Libertadores match at Morumbi Stadium last Thursday and was taken to the hospital. The Uruguayan club Nacional expressed deep sorrow over his death, stating that their hearts are “heavy with pain” and that the entire club is mourning the loss.
South American soccer’s governing body, CONMEBOL, also paid tribute to Izquierdo. President Alejandro Domínguez expressed his condolences, calling the news of Izquierdo’s passing a “great sorrow” for South American soccer. Other soccer federations, including those from Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina, also offered their sympathies.
On Monday, doctors reported that Izquierdo was in neurological critical care due to increased intracranial pressure and had been on a ventilator since Sunday. Uruguayan media reported that Izquierdo’s parents and Nacional executives were present at the hospital. He was married and had two children, with the youngest, a boy, born earlier this month.
Uruguayan national team players, including Inter Miami striker Luis Suárez, expressed their grief. Suárez described the situation as “painful and hard to explain” and offered his condolences to Izquierdo’s family and friends.
In solidarity with Izquierdo, Uruguay’s first- and second-division leagues were postponed last weekend. Sao Paulo FC, where Izquierdo collapsed, wore shirts in his support before their 2-1 win against Vitória on Sunday. The club also released a statement of sympathy, expressing deep sadness and condolences to Izquierdo’s family, friends, and fans.
Izquierdo’s professional career began in 2018 with local club Cerro. He briefly joined Peñarol in 2019 but had limited playing time before moving to Montevideo Wanderers. His impressive performances caught the eye of Mexico’s San Luís in 2021, though he returned to Montevideo Wanderers. In 2022, he joined Nacional, briefly played with Liverpool FC, and later returned to Nacional this year. He played 23 matches and scored one goal before his untimely death.
Izquierdo’s passing recalls a similar tragedy from nearly 20 years ago when São Caetano defender Serginho died after collapsing at Morumbi Stadium. That incident led to changes in health protocols in Brazilian soccer, including the requirement for defibrillators in all stadiums. Izquierdo was treated with a defibrillator before being transported to the hospital.
Former São Caetano player Anderson Lima reflected on the sadness of Izquierdo’s death, noting that it brings back memories of Serginho’s passing and wishing comfort to Izquierdo’s family.
