Uruguayan Nacional soccer player Juan Izquierdo dies in Brazil 5 days after collapse during game in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo — Uruguayan soccer participant Juan Izquierdo died Tuesday at a hospital in Brazil 5 days after collapsing throughout a recreation at Sao Paulo. He was 27.

Hospital Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo stated in an announcement that the Nacional defender died at 9:38 p.m. native time following “cardiorespiratory arrest related along with his cardiac arrhythmia.”

Izquierdo was taken to the hospital after he collapsed late in a Copa Libertadores soccer match at Sao Paulo’s Morumbi Stadium final Thursday.

The Uruguayan membership posted an announcement on social media saying Izquierdo’s loss of life is felt “in deep ache and influence in our hearts” and “all Nacional is in grief for his irreplaceable loss.”

South American soccer’s governing physique additionally posted a tribute. CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez stated he is “deeply sorry concerning the early departure of Juan Izquierdo.”

“South American soccer is in mourning,” he stated. Different federations, together with Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina, additionally expressed their condolences.

In an announcement Monday, docs on the hospital stated Izquierdo was put into neurological essential care due to elevated intracranial strain. He had been on a ventilator since Sunday.

Uruguayan media stated Izquierdo’s mother and father and Nacional executives had been on the hospital in Sao Paulo. Izquierdo was married and had two kids – the youngest, a boy, was born earlier in August.

Uruguayan nationwide group gamers had been amongst these expressing their condolences.

“Ache, disappointment, it’s arduous to elucidate,” Inter Miami striker Luis Suárez stated. “Could he relaxation in peace. I want a whole lot of energy for his household and buddies.”

Uruguay’s first- and second-division soccer leagues had been postponed final weekend resulting from considerations over Izquierdo’s well being. Sao Paulo gamers wore a shirt in help of the Uruguayan footballer earlier than the group’s 2-1 Brazilian league win in opposition to Vitoria on Sunday.

The Brazilian membership additionally posted a message after Izquierdo’s loss of life.

“We had days of prayers, union and hope, and right this moment we’re in deep disappointment with the information of the loss of life of Juan Izquierdo,” Sao Paulo’s membership assertion stated. “Our condolences to household, buddies, teammates, Nacional followers and all of the Uruguayan individuals on this second of grief.”

Izquierdo’s skilled profession started in 2018 at native membership Cerro. He joined Peñarol the next yr, however did not get a lot enjoying time.

“Peñarol is deeply sorry concerning the passing of Juan Manuel Izquierdo. We specific our heartfelt condolences and we embrace his household, his buddies and Nacional on this second of a lot ache,” Peñarol stated in its social media channels.

After leaving Peñarol, Izquierdo moved to Montevideo Wanderers.

His athletic kind and sharp tackles caught the eye of Mexico’s San Luís in 2021, however he rapidly returned to the Montevideo Wanderers. Izquierdo was signed by Nacional in 2022, performed one match after which was transferred to the native Liverpool membership.

The defender was one in every of Liverpool’s greatest gamers within the marketing campaign that led to a Uruguayan league title in 2023, the membership’s first in additional than a century.

Izquierdo returned to Nacional this yr and was vying for a place within the beginning lineup with veteran Sebastián Coates, who performed for Uruguay’s nationwide group. He performed 23 matches this yr and scored one aim.

Nearly twenty years in the past, Sao Caetano defender Serginho died hours after collapsing at Morumbi Stadium throughout a Brazilian league match in opposition to Sao Paulo. Medical doctors tried to resucitate him on the pitch, as tens of 1000’s of followers watched in shock and gamers wept and prayed on the sidelines.

Serginho’s loss of life compelled Brazilian soccer executives to vary well being protocols to permit defibrillators in each stadium. Medical doctors used a defibrillator on Izquierdo as he was be rushed to the close by Hospital Albert Einstein.

“Such disappointment, 20 years later,” former Sao Caetano participant Anderson Lima stated on Instagram. “Could God consolation his household on this unhappy second.”