The Uruguayan football player Juan Izquierdo, who collapsed on the pitch following an irregular heartbeat the week before, has passed away, according to a statement released by his Club Nacional team.
Rumours have been swirling about the 27-year-old’s health ever since he suffered a collapse during a high-stakes Copa Libertadores match against SÁo Paulo. Medical care has been a constant presence in their lives since that fateful day at the Morumbi stadium in Brazil on August 22nd.
Nacional made a heartbreaking announcement on X, sharing the devastating news of the passing of their cherished player, Juan Izquierdo. Juan Izquierdo was associated with the Nacional organisation. Our thoughts are with the members of his family, friends, and coworkers, as well as those who were dear to him, during this difficult time. Due to a devastating loss, the entire Nacional community is overcome with sorrow.
In addition, Alejandro Domínguez, the president of the regulatory body of South American football, expressed his condolences to Izquierdo’s family and friends. Furthermore, he expressed that the world of South American football is currently grieving.
The São Paulo football club expressed their deep sadness upon hearing the news, describing it as a “tragic day for football.”
Last Thursday, Izquierdo had a fainting spell and was taken to the Albert Einstein Hospital. Izquierdo’s unfortunate passing was attributed to a cardiorespiratory arrest linked to his cardiac arrhythmia, as per a statement released by the hospital on Tuesday night.
Did you hear the latest news from the hospital? Apparently, Izquierdo has been dealing with some serious pressure in his skull. The medical staff released a statement about it on Monday. There has been quite a buzz about his recent medical treatment. Starting from Sunday, he has been undergoing some crucial procedures to address his neurological condition. And as of Monday, he has been placed on a ventilator.
Rumours surrounding Izquierdo’s well-being caused the delay of the first- and second-division football leagues in Uruguay during the weekend. The players of Sõo Paulo sported a shirt to express their solidarity with a Uruguayan footballer before securing a 2-1 victory over Vitória in the Brazilian division on Sunday.
At halftime of the match against So Paulo, Izquierdo had replaced Sebastián Coates, the defender for the Uruguayan team. However, the defender slumped to the ground unconscious in the 84th minute without coming into touch with any other player.
Players on both sides of the conflict promptly requested medical assistance. Despite the fact that he was still unconscious, Izquierdo was transported off the pitch in an ambulance to the cheers of the spectators. He was then brought to the intensive care unit of Hospital Albert Einstein to receive treatment.
The local club Cerro was where Izquierdo made his debut in the professional league in 2018. When he joined Peñarol the following year, he did not receive a significant amount of playing time. Following that, the defender relocated to the Montevideo Wanderers.
Izquierdo only played in one game after signing with Nacional in 2022 before moving to the Liverpool team, which is based in the same city. During the season that Liverpool won the Uruguayan league championship in 2023, the defender was one of the finest players for the club. This victory was the first league championship for Liverpool in more than a century.
Izquierdo made his comeback to Nacional this year, and he was competing with veteran Coates, who had previously played for Uruguay’s national team, for a starting berth in the lineup. This year, he saw action in 23 matches and managed to score one goal.