Days after collapse, player dies in Brazil

SAO PAULO — Uruguayan soccer player Juan Izquierdo died at a hospital in Brazil on Tuesday, five days after collapsing during a game against Sao Paulo. He was 27.

Hospital Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo said in a statement that the Nacional defender died at 9:38 pm local time following "cardiorespiratory arrest associated with his cardiac arrhythmia."

Izquierdo was taken to the hospital after he collapsed shortly before the full-time whistle in a Copa Libertadores soccer match at Sao Paulo's Morumbi Stadium last Thursday.

The Uruguayan club posted a statement on social media saying Izquierdo's death is felt "in deep pain and impact on our hearts "and "all Nacional is in grief for his irreplaceable loss".

South American soccer's governing body also posted a tribute. CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez said he was "deeply sorry about the early departure of Juan Izquierdo.

"South American soccer is in mourning," he said. Other federations, including Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina, also expressed their condolences.

In a statement Monday, doctors at the hospital said Izquierdo was put into neurological critical care because of increased intracranial pressure. He had been on a ventilator since Sunday.

Uruguayan media said Izquierdo's parents and Nacional executives were at the hospital in Sao Paulo. Izquierdo was married and had two children — the youngest, a boy, was born earlier in August.

Uruguay's first- and second-division soccer leagues were postponed last weekend due to concerns over Izquierdo's health. Sao Paulo players wore a shirt in support of the Uruguayan footballer before the team's 2-1 Brazilian league win against Vitoria on Sunday.

The Brazilian club also posted a message after Izquierdo's death.

"We had days of prayers, union and hope, and today we are in deep sadness at the news of the death of Juan Izquierdo," Sao Paulo's club statement said. "Our condolences to family, friends, teammates, Nacional fans and all the Uruguayan people in this moment of grief."

Izquierdo's professional career began in 2018 at his local club Cerro. He joined Penarol the following year, but didn't get much playing time. "Penarol is deeply sorry about the passing of Juan Manuel Izquierdo. We express our heartfelt condolences and we embrace his family, his friends and Nacional in this moment of so much pain," the club said on its social media channels.

After leaving Penarol, Izquierdo moved to Montevideo Wanderers.

His athletic form and sharp tackles caught the attention of Mexico's San Luis in 2021. Izquierdo was signed by Nacional in 2022.He played 23 matches this year and scored one goal.

AFP