Club Nacional revealed the death of Uruguayan player Juan Izquierdo, who fainted on the pitch last week due to an abnormal heartbeat.
Since falling during the second leg of a Copa Libertadores round of 16 match against São Paulo at Brazil’s Morumbi stadium on August 22, the 27-year-old has been receiving medical care.
“It is with the deepest sorrow and shock in our hearts that the Club Nacional announces the death of our beloved player Juan Izquierdo,” Nacional stated on X. We offer our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and coworkers. All of Nacional mourns his tragic loss.”
South American football’s governing body president, Alejandro Domínguez, offered his sympathies to Izquierdo’s family and friends. He continued, “South American football is in mourning”.
São Paulo expressed sadness due to the news, calling it a “sad day for football.”
Izquierdo collapsed Thursday and was brought to Albert Einstein Hospital. The hospital reported late Tuesday that Izquierdo had “cardiorespiratory arrest associated with his cardiac arrhythmia.”
On Monday, hospital doctors stated Izquierdo had increased intracranial pressure. He has been ventilated since Sunday and in neurological critical care since Monday.
Due to Izquierdo’s health, Uruguay’s first- and second-division football leagues were postponed over the weekend. São Paulo players wore a shirt in honor of Uruguayan footballer before they defeated Vitória 2-1 in the Brazilian league on Sunday.
After replacing Sebastián Coates at halftime, Uruguayan defender Izquierdo collapsed unconscious in the 84th minute without contact with another player.
Players from both teams requested medical treatment. Izquierdo was brought off the pitch in an ambulance to the spectators’ cheers and treated at Hospital Albert Einstein’s intensive care unit while unconscious.
Local team Cerro signed Izquierdo in 2018. He joined Peñarol the following year but saw limited playing time. The defender joined Montevideo Wanderers.
Izquierdo joined Nacional in 2022, played one match, and then joined Liverpool. In 2023, Liverpool won their first Uruguayan league title in over a century thanks to the defender’s star performance.
Izquierdo returned to Nacional this year and competed for a starting spot alongside Uruguayan international Coates. He scored one goal in 23 matches this year.
