Former Liverpool and Uruguayan player, Juan Izquierdo, a defender for Nacional, has tragically passed away after collapsing on the pitch earlier this month during a Copa Libertadores match due to an irregular heartbeat.
The 27-year-old collapsed during Nacional’s game against Sao Paulo on August 22, suffering from cardiac arrest. Despite receiving immediate medical attention on the field and subsequent treatment at Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, Izquierdo’s condition deteriorated after being initially described as ‘stable’ by Nacional.
Nacional conveyed their profound grief in a statement posted on X, saying, “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 news has sent shockwaves through the football community, with a spokesperson for Sao Paulo, the Brazilian side Nacional faced during the incident, calling it a “sad day for football.”
Luis Suarez, the Inter Miami striker, expressed his emotions upon hearing the news, stating, “Pain, sadness, it is hard to explain. May he rest in peace. I wish a lot of strength for his family and friends.”
Izquierdo had been placed on a ventilator on Sunday and was under neurological care starting from Monday. His collapse came in the 84th minute of the match after he was brought on as a half-time substitute for former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates. The collapse occurred without any contact with another player.
The football world was deeply impacted by Izquierdo’s condition, leading to the postponement of Uruguay’s first and second division leagues over the weekend.
In a heartbreaking twist, Izquierdo’s wife had given birth to their second child just ten days before the incident, as reported by the Spanish newspaper El Pais. Izquierdo had no known history of heart conditions prior to his collapse.
