The football world is in mourning. Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo has died

Sad news has hit the football world. Uruguayan defender Juan Izquierdo has died. The 27-year-old Nacional Montevideo player died in hospital after collapsing on the pitch during a Copa Libertadores match against Sao Paulo.

• Juan Izquierdo collapsed during a Copa Libertadores match and died after several days in hospital
• Doctors diagnosed a cardiac arrhythmia that led to cardiac arrest and subsequent brain damage
• Brazilian clubs will observe a minute’s silence in the player’s memory during Wednesday’s matches

Twenty-seven-year-old Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo, a defender for Nacional Montevideo, died after collapsing on the pitch during a Copa Libertadores match.

The incident occurred last week during a match against Sao Paulo when Izquierdo lost consciousness without making contact with an opposing player and collapsed on the turf. Medics immediately intervened and managed to revive the player after a cardiac arrest, but his condition was so serious that he was immediately taken to hospital.

After being admitted to a hospital in Sao Paulo near Izquierdo, doctors diagnosed an arrhythmia of the heart that led to cardiac arrest. In the following days, his condition worsened, with severe brain damage and increased intracranial pressure.

Following the incident, all professional football competitions in Uruguay were cancelled over the weekend.

The player had been in intensive care since Sunday, where he was breathing only with the help of machines. Despite the best efforts of doctors, his condition fatally deteriorated on Tuesday, leading to his death.

Nacional Montevideo: Izquierdo will always be with us

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our beloved player Juan Izquierdo. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and all who knew him,” Uruguayan club Nacional Montevideo said in a statement on social media. The club also stressed that Izquierdo will always be part of their history.

Izquierdo’s death has affected the football community not only in Uruguay, but throughout South America. Football associations from Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Paraguay have expressed their condolences.

The Brazilian federation also announced that the clubs have decided to honour the memory of the late player with a minute’s silence before every match played in Brazil on Wednesday.

Source: Guardian, X