Uruguayan footballer dies after collapsing on the pitch

A few days after collapsing during a Copa Libertadores match in Brazil, Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo has died at the age of 27, his club confirmed on Tuesday.

The cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest associated with a cardiac arrhythmia, his club Nacional announced, citing the doctors treating him at the Albert Einstein Hospital in the Brazilian metropolis of São Paulo, dpa reported.

Izquierdo died at 21.38 local time on Tuesday evening (0038 GMT Wednesday). The centre-back collapsed in the 84th minute of the second leg of the round of 16 tie against São Paulo FC last Thursday.

Izquierdo's death was an "irreparable loss," Nacional said in a post on social media platform X. The head of South American football association CONMEBOL, Alejandro Domínguez, expressed his condolences to Izquierdo's club and his family. "South American football is in mourning," he said.

Izquierdo made his debut in Uruguay's first division with Club Atlético Cerro in 2018. He moved to Nacional in 2022. During his time there he played 33 games and scored two goals. São Paulo won the game 2-0 last Thursday and progressed to the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores.

WAM