Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo, 27, passed away on August 27, 2024, at 21:38 local time, five days after collapsing during a Copa Libertadores match between Nacional and São Paulo FC. The Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in São Paulo, where Izquierdo was treated, confirmed that he succumbed to ‘brain death as a consequence of a cardiac arrest associated with an arrhythmia’.In the wake of this tragedy, new details have emerged about Izquierdo’s final days and the impact of his loss. His wife, Selena, shared a heart-wrenching farewell on social media, saying, ‘Today I had to say goodbye to my other half, to my love, my best friend, my husband, the father of my children’. She added, ‘You were a great person, noble, loving, without malice. You were an angel on earth and will be an angel in heaven’.The football community has rallied around Izquierdo’s family. Jonathan Calleri, an Argentine player for São Paulo, reportedly offered to pay for Izquierdo’s medical treatment, though the club declined. Clubs across South America, including Universidad de Chile and Colo Colo, expressed their condolences.Arrangements are being made to return Izquierdo’s body to Uruguay via a military flight, with the funeral scheduled for August 29. The Uruguayan Football Association has suspended all matches in the Clausura tournament as a mark of respect.Izquierdo’s career, though cut tragically short, was marked by success. He joined Nacional in 2022 and had played 24 out of 37 matches this season, scoring one goal. His passing has left a void in Uruguayan football, with Nacional’s president, Alejandro Balbi, describing him as ‘an engaged athlete loved by all his teammates and all members of the Club Nacional’.
Key points
- Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo, 27, died on August 27, 2024, due to complications from a cardiac arrest during a match.
- Izquierdo’s wife, Selena, shared an emotional farewell on social media, highlighting the personal tragedy behind the sports headline.
- The football community, including rival players and clubs, has shown strong support for Izquierdo’s family.
- Izquierdo’s body will be returned to Uruguay via military flight, with the funeral scheduled for August 29.
