Nacional’s Juan Izquierdo Dies at 27 Following On-Pitch Collapse

Nacional defender Juan Izquierdo has tragically passed away at the age of 27 after collapsing on the pitch during a Copa Libertadores match earlier this month due to an irregular heartbeat.

Izquierdo, a Uruguayan national, suffered a cardiac arrest during Nacional’s game against Sao Paulo on August 22. After collapsing in the 84th minute, he was swiftly attended to on the pitch and rushed to the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. Initially, his condition was described as stable, but it worsened in the following days.

Nacional confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement: “It is with the deepest sorrow and shock in our hearts that the Club Nacional announces the death of our beloved player Juan Izquierdo. We express our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones. All of Nacional is in mourning for his irreparable loss.”

The football community has been deeply affected by the news. A spokesperson for Sao Paulo, the team Nacional was playing against, described it as a “sad day for football.” Luis Suarez, Inter Miami striker, expressed his grief, saying, “Pain, sadness, it is hard to explain. May he rest in peace. I wish a lot of strength for his family and friends.”

Izquierdo, who was put on a ventilator and had been under neurological care since Monday, had come on as a half-time substitute for former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates during the match. At the time of his collapse, he was not in contact with any other player.

The tragedy has led to the postponement of Uruguay’s first and second division leagues over the weekend. Adding to the sorrow, Izquierdo’s wife had given birth to their second child just ten days before his collapse.

Izquierdo had no known pre-existing heart condition, making the incident all the more shocking and tragic for his family, teammates, and fans.