In the world of Uruguayan football, sad news has hit the sports community hard. The premature death of player Juan Izquierdo, which occurred last Tuesday in hospital in Brazil, has plunged Uruguayan football into mourning. Aged just 27, Izquierdo lost his life five days after collapsing during a match.
The news of his death has caused great emotion, both within his club Nacional and among his former teams, who have expressed their deep sadness and offered their condolences to Izquierdo’s family. His death, which occurred following a cardiorespiratory arrest linked to a cardiac arrhythmia, has left a huge void in the world of Uruguayan football.
The defender’s career, which began in 2018 with local club Cerro, has quickly gained momentum. Remarkable performances took him to Mexico, where he joined San Luís in 2021, before returning prematurely to Uruguay. His time with local Liverpool was marked by a historic campaign that led the team to a Uruguayan league title in 2023.
When Izquierdo collapsed before the end of a Copa Libertadores match in Sao Paulo, the entire Uruguayan football landscape was thrown into disarray. As a mark of respect and mourning, the Uruguayan first and second division leagues were postponed the following weekend, reflecting the profound impact of the loss of this talented player.
Married with two children, Juan Izquierdo leaves behind a remarkable sporting legacy and a grieving family. His journey, though too short, was marked by an unwavering passion and dedication to football. His sudden disappearance remains a terrible tragedy for Uruguayan football, reminding us of the fragility of life in the world of top-level sport.