SAO PAULO (AP) 鈥� Soccer player Juan Izquierdo has died days after collapsing during a game in Brazil, his Uruguayan club and South American football's governing body said Tuesday. He was 27.
The club, Nacional, posted a statement on social media saying Izquierdo鈥檚 death is felt 鈥渋n deep pain and impact in our hearts鈥� and 鈥渁ll Nacional is in grief for his irreplaceable loss.鈥�
South American soccer鈥檚 governing body also posted a tribute.
CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dom铆nguez said he鈥檚 鈥渄eeply sorry about the early departure of Juan Izquierdo.
鈥淪outh American soccer in in mourning.鈥�
Izquierdo was taken to Hospital Albert Einstein after he collapsed during a Copa Libertadores soccer match at Sao Paulo's Morumbi Stadium last Thursday.
The hospital said in a statement late Tuesday that Izquierdo had 鈥渃ardiorespiratory arrest associated with his cardiac arrhythmia.鈥�
In a statement Monday, doctors at the hospital had said Izquierdo was experiencing increased intracranial pressure. He had been on a ventilator since Sunday and under neurological critical care since Monday.
Uruguayan media said Izquierdo鈥檚 parents and Nacional executives were at the hospital in Sao Paulo. Izquierdo was married and had two children 鈥� the youngest, a boy, was born earlier in August.
on the weekend due to concerns over Izquierdo鈥檚 health. Sao Paulo players wore a shirt in support of the Uruguayan footballer before the team鈥檚 2-1 Brazilian league win against Vitoria on Sunday.
Izquierdo鈥檚 professional career began in 2018 at local club Cerro. He joined Pe帽arol the following year, but didn鈥檛 get much playing time. The defender then moved to Montevideo Wanderers.
His athletic form and sharp tackles caught the attention of Mexico鈥檚 San Lu铆s in 2021, but he quickly returned to the Montevideo Wanderers.
Izquierdo was signed by Nacional in 2022, played one match and then was transferred to the local Liverpool club.
The defender was one of Liverpool鈥檚 best players in the campaign that led the team to an Uruguayan league title in 2023, the club鈥檚 first in more than a century.
Izquierdo returned to Nacional this year and was vying for a position in the starting lineup with veteran Sebasti谩n Coates, who played for Uruguay鈥檚 national team. He played 23 matches this year and scored one goal.
___
AP soccer:
Mauricio Savarese, The Associated Press
