The football community across South America is in mourning following the tragic death of Uruguayan defender Juan Izquierdo, who passed away after suffering a cardiopulmonary arrest during a Copa Libertadores match.
The 27-year-old, who played for Nacional, collapsed during their match against Brazilian side São Paulo on August 22, following an irregular heartbeat. The incident occurred in the 84th minute, with Izquierdo collapsing to the ground without contact from another player. Medical staff immediately attended to him, and he was quickly transported to the Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo, where he was placed in the intensive care unit.
Izquierdo had been receiving medical treatment since the incident, but despite the best efforts of the medical team, his condition deteriorated. The hospital later confirmed that Izquierdo had succumbed to brain death, a result of the cardiopulmonary arrest caused by cardiac arrhythmia. His sudden passing has sent shockwaves through the football world, with tributes pouring in from across the continent.
Nacional, the club where Izquierdo had been playing, expressed their deepest sorrow in an emotional statement posted on social media platform X. “It is with the deepest sorrow and shock in our hearts that the Club Nacional announces the death of our beloved player Juan Izquierdo,” the statement read. “We express our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones. All of Nacional is in mourning for his irreparable loss.”
Con el más profundo dolor e impacto en nuestros corazones, el Club Nacional de Football comunica el fallecimiento de nuestro querido jugador Juan Izquierdo.
Expresamos nuestras más sinceras condolencias a su familia, amigos, colegas y allegados.
Todo Nacional está de luto por… pic.twitter.com/mYU28mqw6m
— Nacional (@Nacional) August 28, 2024
The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) echoed this sentiment, describing the news of Izquierdo’s passing as deeply painful. The loss has been felt beyond Uruguay’s borders, with football associations from Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, and Colombia all offering their condolences to Izquierdo’s family and the Nacional club.
Alejandro Domínguez, the president of South American football’s governing body, CONMEBOL, remarked that the entire region’s football community is grieving the loss of such a young and talented player. “South American football is in mourning,” Domínguez said, highlighting the deep impact that Izquierdo’s death has had on the sport.
The Brazilian Football Federation, too, expressed its sorrow, with President Ednaldo Rodrigues announcing that a minute’s silence would be observed in all matches organized by the federation on Wednesday as a mark of respect for Izquierdo.
São Paulo, the club that Nacional faced when the incident occurred, released a statement expressing their deep sadness at the news of Izquierdo’s passing. They referred to the day as a “sad day for football,” underscoring the shared sense of loss that has enveloped the football community.
Juan Izquierdo’s death is a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the unpredictability of such tragic incidents. At 27, he was at the prime of his footballing career, and his loss is felt deeply by those who knew him personally and by the wider football community that admired his talents on the field. His memory will be cherished by Nacional, where he played a vital role, and by the fans who witnessed his contributions to the sport.
