Uruguayan football is in mourning following the death of 27-year-old player Juan Izquierdo, who passed away on Tuesday, August 27, in a Brazilian hospital, five days after collapsing during a match.
Nacional, his current club, along with his former clubs, shared their “deep pain” on social media and offered condolences to Izquierdo’s family.
Sao Paulo’s Hospital Albert Einstein reported that Izquierdo died due to “cardiorespiratory arrest associated with his cardiac arrhythmia.”
The incident occurred last Thursday, August 22, when Izquierdo collapsed just before fulltime during a Copa Libertadores match in Sao Paulo.
As a result, Uruguay’s first- and second-division football leagues were postponed over the weekend.
Izquierdo began his professional career in 2018 with local club Cerro. His strong performances and aggressive tackling earned him a move to Mexico’s San Luís in 2021, though he soon returned to Uruguay.
He was a key player for Liverpool FC during their historic campaign, which led to the Uruguayan league title in 2023.
Izquierdo is survived by his wife and two children.