The online video captures Uruguayan national footballer Juan Izquierdo stumbling on the football field during the second half of a match against Sao Paulo as a medical team rushes to provide emergency assistance. His team reported his demise five days after the incident through a press statement.
The 27-year-old Juan Izquierdo was the defender and played in over 100 Uruguayan Primera Division matches for Cerro, Penarol, Montevideo, Wanderers, and Liverpool.
Moreover, the footballer made his professional debut for Cerro in 2018 and, a week later, made his way to the primary division, entering the field as a substitute for Jonathan Barboza.
However, during his recent match in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores, a fan video captured Izquierdo in the midfield struggling to balance while standing.
🚨Increíble lo de Juan Izquierdo lo están atendiendo en el hospital del estadio en este momento. QUE NO SEA NADA 🙏🏻pic.twitter.com/kICTJsvxur
— Martin Olivera (@olivera_martin1) August 22, 2024
The player swayed side by side before moving to his right when one of his teammates noticed his unusual behavior and called for emergency services, who rushed him to the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo.
Later, the medical team revealed that Juan Izquierdo collapsed due to Cardiac Arrhythmia in the video, which refers to the abnormal change in the timing or pattern of a person’s heartbeat. Depending on its intensity, one may experience symptoms, and many people can live entire lives.
Sadly, it wasn’t the case for the footballer, as he spent five days in intensive care in unstable conditions and ultimately met his unfortunate demise on August 27, 2024.
Juan Izquierdo is survived by his wife and their two children, who stayed by his side until the end!
When things escalated on the football field, the team initially described his condition as a cardiac arrest of undetermined onset, commonly known as stroke.
Later, the doctors decided to keep Izquierdo sedated for days to examine how he responded to the condition. As for the match, the first and second-division soccer leagues were postponed on the weekend as Izquierdo’s condition worsened in the hospital, with the fall affecting his brain.
During the following match, Sao Paulo players wore shorts supporting the footballer, which read, “Stay strong, Izquierdo,” as they scored 2-1 in the Brazilian league win against Vitoria.
El tipo hace 2 goles en 6 minutos y se los dedica a Izquierdo, es la persona que más amo en el mundo #FuerzaJuan pic.twitter.com/3SEpB9bI6b
— Pulga (@pulgaa1899) August 25, 2024
Izquierdo’s death came as a surprise to many as he didn’t have a history of medical conditions, while his team expressed, “All Nacional is in grief for his irreplaceable loss. South American soccer is in mourning. RIP. Juan, you will be with us forever.“
Likewise, other federations, including Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina, expressed condolences for the industry’s loss of young talent, recognizing that Izquierdo still had many years before retirement.
After his departure, former Uruguay captain Diego Lugano visited Izquierdo’s family and other soccer family members to support them during the difficult time.
Additional Information
- Born in Montevideo, Juan Manuel Izquierdo briefly played in Mexico’s Liga MX for Atletico San Luis in 2021 and was honored in the national league and Supercopa Uruguaya.
- In 2024, Izquierdo played 23 matches, hoping to be in the starting lineup with veteran Coates, and scored one goal.
- During his treatment, the footballer didn’t show any improvement, and doctors placed him in neurological care.
