Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo, a 27-year-old midfielder for Nacional, has tragically passed away in Brazil. Izquierdo collapsed from a heart attack during a Copa Libertadores match against São Paulo on Tuesday, and despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his condition later that day.
Izquierdo collapsed in the 84th minute of the high-stakes game, which was crucial for securing a place in the quarterfinals of South America’s premier club competition. He was promptly transported to Albert Einstein Hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with “cardiac arrest of undetermined onset, secondary to an arrhythmia.”
Following his collapse, Izquierdo was sedated and placed on a ventilator. His condition worsened, leading to increased brain involvement and elevated intracranial pressure, according to hospital reports.
The news of his death was announced by Club Nacional de Football, which shared their grief on the social network X, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of their player. The club also posted a black-and-white photograph of Izquierdo in tribute.
Izquierdo’s wife, Selena, recently gave birth to their second child just a week prior to his passing. The player had a history of a minor arrhythmia diagnosed during youth team check-ups, but it had not caused significant issues, according to National Sports Secretariat director Sebastian Bauza.
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Club president Alejandro Balbi noted that Izquierdo had not exhibited any cardiac problems during his medical evaluations since joining Nacional in January. Born in Montevideo in 1991, Izquierdo began his professional career in 2017 and played for various Uruguayan first-division clubs and Atletico San Luis in Mexico.
The football community mourns the loss of a promising talent whose career was cut tragically short.
