Juan Izquierdo, a 27-year-old Uruguayan soccer player, died on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, five days after collapsing during a Copa Libertadores match. He passed away due to “brain death following a cardiac arrest associated with an arrhythmia,” according to the hospital and the South American soccer community has been left in mourning.
Izquierdo, a defender for Club Nacional de Football, collapsed unexpectedly during a match against São Paulo on August 22, 2024, at Morumbi Stadium. The incident, which occurred in the 84th minute, saw Izquierdo fall to the ground without contact from any other player. Medical staff promptly attended to him, and he was taken off the pitch in an ambulance.
He was admitted to Hospital Albert Einstein in São Paulo, where he was diagnosed with cardiorespiratory arrest caused by cardiac arrhythmia. Despite being placed on a ventilator, his condition worsened due to increased intracranial pressure. On August 27 at 9:38 p.m. local time, Izquierdo was pronounced dead.
Club Nacional de Football expressed profound sorrow over Izquierdo’s passing, stating that his death “is felt in deep pain and impact in our hearts.” The club added, “All Nacional is in grief for his irreplaceable loss.” Izquierdo’s death also resonated with football federations and governing bodies across South America.
Izquierdo’s professional career began in 2018 with the local club Cerro. His defensive skills quickly caught the attention of Peñarol, where he played for a season before moving to Montevideo Wanderers. In 2021, he briefly joined San Luís in Mexico before returning to Wanderers. In 2022, he signed with Nacional, contributing to Liverpool’s first Uruguayan league title in over a century during the 2023 season.
His passing led to an outpouring of heartfelt tributes from numerous soccer organizations. Alejandro Domínguez, the president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), offered his condolences, noting that South American soccer is in mourning and expressing deep sorrow over Juan Izquierdo’s early death.
In response to his death, the Uruguayan first and second-division soccer leagues were postponed as a mark of respect. Before their match against Vitoria, São Paulo players wore shirts supporting Izquierdo, highlighting the solidarity in soccer.
Izquierdo leaves behind his wife and two children, the youngest of whom was born earlier in August. Izquierdo’s wife, Selena, expressed her grief on social media, referring to him as the love of her life.
Though tragically cut short, his career will be remembered for his contributions to the teams he played for and the respect he earned from his peers.