Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo passed away on Tuesday due to cardiac arrhythmia. The player collapsed on the field during the final moments of a Copa Libertadores match where Brazil’s São Paulo was competing against his team, Nacional.
The game was halted after Izquierdo fell, and an ambulance was called to provide immediate medical assistance. Initially reported as being stable, Nacional later revealed that he was suffering from cardiac arrhythmia and was admitted to the intensive care unit at Albert Einstein Hospital. Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated, leading to increased pressure in his brain, and he required mechanical ventilation. His neurological state worsened over the weekend, and on Tuesday night, the club announced his death.
Izquierdo’s wife shared her sorrow through a heartfelt message on his Instagram account, stating, “Today I had to bid farewell to my other half, the love of my life. Today a part of me is leaving with you.” The couple leaves behind a two-year-old daughter and a newborn son.
The news of Izquierdo’s passing resonated throughout the football community, with condolences pouring in from the South American football confederation Conmebol and its president Alejandro Dominguez, the Argentine Football Federation, and prominent clubs including Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Paris Saint Germain.
Luis Suárez, who played alongside Izquierdo when he returned to Nacional in 2022, expressed his grief on Instagram, saying, “Pain and sadness, it’s hard to explain. May you rest in peace and wishing a lot of strength for your family and friends.”
In response to Izquierdo’s condition, the Uruguayan football league announced the suspension of matchdays two and three.
The football world has seen several serious cardiac incidents in recent years. In 2021, Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed during a Euro 2021 match against Finland but was successfully resuscitated and later returned to professional football. Argentina striker Sergio “Kun” Agüero retired the same year after experiencing breathlessness and dizziness during a game. He was later diagnosed with arrhythmia, which led to medical advice for him to step away from professional play.