What's happened
Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo has died at 27 after collapsing during a Copa Libertadores match on August 22. He suffered cardiac arrest and was hospitalized but succumbed to complications on August 27, prompting widespread mourning in South American football.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Gabriel Araujo in The Independent, Izquierdo's club Nacional expressed their sorrow, stating, "We express our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones." Sky News reported that the Brazilian Football Federation planned to observe a minute's silence in his honor, emphasizing the collective grief felt across the sport. The Guardian noted that the Uruguayan Football Association also mourned his loss, indicating the broader impact of this tragedy on South American football.
How we got here
Juan Izquierdo collapsed during a Copa Libertadores match against Sao Paulo on August 22, 2024, due to an irregular heartbeat. He was hospitalized and remained in critical condition until his death five days later.
More on these topics
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São Paulo is a municipality in the Southeast Region of Brazil. The metropolis is an alpha global city and the most populous city in Brazil, the Americas, the Western Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.
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Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in the southeastern region of South America. It borders Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and east, with the Río de la Plata to the south and the Atlantic Ocean