Real Madrid Pays Tribute to Uruguayan Soccer Player Juan Izquierdo Following Tragic On-Pitch Collapse

Uruguayan soccer player Juan Izquierdo has tragically passed away just days after collapsing on the pitch during a Copa Libertadores game.

The defender, who played for Uruguayan club Nacional, died on Tuesday at the age of 27. He had been hospitalized at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil since August 22, when he suffered a sudden illness on the field at the Morumbis Stadium during the Copa Libertadores clash with Sao Paulo.

On Tuesday, the Nacional squad met with the player's family at the hospital. A few hours later, the player's death was confirmed in a post by Nacional on its social media channels.

"With deep pain and impact on our hearts, Club Nacional de Football announces the death of our beloved player Juan Izquierdo," their translated statement read. "We express our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones. Nacional is mourning this irreparable loss."

Sao Paulo also mourned the player's death and expressed "deep sadness" at the loss, while other clubs and footballing organizations from around the world paid their respects.

Among them, UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid issued a tribute to the player, expressing condolences and sympathy "to his family, teammates and loved ones, to Club Nacional de Football, to all the clubs he played for, to Uruguayan football and all its fans".

Official Announcement: Passing away of Juan Izquierdo.#RealMadrid

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Izquierdo suffered a cardiac arrhythmia during the match against Sao Paulo. He was treated on the field and left the stadium conscious. However, he later suffered cardiac arrest, which required "cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including a defibrillation procedure, and the patient returned to spontaneous circulation."

On Sunday, the hospital reported that he had shown progression of brain damage and increased intracranial pressure. He was dependent on mechanical ventilation, with his condition considered critical.

On Tuesday, that prognosis was updated, with a statement confirming that the player had suffered "brain death after cardiorespiratory arrest associated with cardiac arrhythmia." A few hours later, Nacional announced his death.

Juan Izquierdo was 27 years old. A Uruguayan from Montevideo, he played for Cerro, Penarol, Montevideo Wanderers and Mexican side Atletico San Luis before arriving at Nacional.

He signed with the Uruguayan club in 2022, but the following year he went to Liverpool-URU, returning to Nacional in 2024.

For Nacional, he played 25 games in both spells, scoring one goal.