A 27-year-old soccer player died Tuesday, days after he collapsed in the 84th minute of a Copa Libertadores game.
Juan Izquierdo, a player of the Uruguayan club Nacional, collapsed during the match at Sao Paulo’s Morumbi Stadium in Brazil, Thursday, and was initially said to be in stable condition.
But on Monday, doctors said in an update that he suffered “cardiorespiratory arrest associated with his cardiac arrhythmia” and was experiencing increased intracranial pressure.
The late player’s club mourned his “irreplaceable loss” in a social media post before another statement from the South American soccer’s governing body.
Izquierdo, a defender, started his professional career at local clubs in 2018 before joining Montevideo Wanderers.
He briefly played for Mexico’s San Luis in 2021 before returning to Montevideo Wanderers and then signing with Nacional in 2022.
Izquierdo was later transferred to local Liverpool where he led his team to an Uruguanyan league title in 2023.
He returned to National and played 23 matches this year, scoring one goal. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
