Uruguay footballer Juan Izquierdo’s explanation for loss of life revealed by mom
- Izquierdo collapsed during a match between Nacional and Sao Paulo last month
- Tributes flooded in from across football following the Uruguayan’s death
- SOCCER A-Z: Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube. New episodes every Wednesday
The mother of Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo has revealed the cause of his death, after the 27-year-old collapsed during a Copa Libertadores match last month.
Izquierdo collapsed on the pitch when playing for Nacional in a Copa Libertadores round of 16 tie against Sao Paulo in Brazil last month.
He was quickly attended by medics on the pitch and was taken to hospital after suffering a ‘cardiac arrhythmia’ – an anomaly of the heart’s rhythm.
Nacional posted a statement on social media confirming Izquierdo’s death, prompting an outpouring of tributes to the defender from across football.
His mother Sandra Viana has thanked both Nacional and Sao Paulo for how the clubs responded to the tragedy, while she revealed doctors had explained the cause of his death.
Uruguayan footballer Juan Izquierdo died during a match for Nacional last month
His mother Sandra Viana has revealed the cause of her son’s death at the age of 27
Players had called for medics after Juan Izquierdo collapsed on the field last month
An ambulance took Izquierdo from the field but he was later confirmed to have died
‘We wanted to know what caused the arrhythmia because Juan had never had heart problems,’ she told Sport890.
‘The doctors studied the case and told us that he had caught a virus. He had only complained of having swollen lymph nodes.
‘The doctors told us that the virus had lodged in his heart, and that the impact of the match and the high pace had caused the arrhythmia.
‘That’s what the cardiologists and neurologists told me.’
Viana admitted the difficulty of telling Izquierdo’s two-year-old daughter that her father would not be coming home.
Izquierdo had welcomed his second child just days before the match.
She offered her thanks to those offering support in the wake of Izquierdo’s death from across the football world.
Five players from Sao Paulo were among those to attend Izquierdo’s wake last week.
A wake was arranged by Nacional last week with Izquierdo’s thanking fans for their support
Hundreds of supporters had turned out to celebrate the defender following his tragic death
Neymar led the tributes to the Uruguayan footballer with a message on Instagram
‘I am totally surprised by the affection we have received and how the shirts were united by all this,’ Viana said.
‘The other day [Nacional director] Fernando Brusco brought me to my house all the shirts that Sao Paulo gave him in tribute to Juan.
‘All the affection and respect we received for this issue has been incredible.’
Brazilian star Neymar was among those to pay tribute, posting a black and white photo of the Izquierdo alongside the message: ‘Lot of strengths to the family and friends.’
Real Madrid star Rodrygo has also posted: ‘A very sad moment in football.
‘I wish Juan Izquierdo’s family, friends and team-mates much strength. May God bless them all… my deepest condolences.’
Another Brazil star, Liverpool’s former striker Roberto Firmino, wrote on Instagram: ‘May the holy spirit of God comfort and console the entire family.’
Izquierdo’s professional career began in 2018 at local club Cerro. He joined Peñarol the following year, but didn’t get much playing time. The defender then moved to Montevideo Wanderers.
Brazilian team Vasco da Gama paid tribute to the late defender on their shirt last week
Several matches across South America saw player’s observe one minute’s silence in tribute
Players from Tigres held up a shirt in honour of Izquierdo ahead of their match on September 1
His athletic form and sharp tackles caught the attention of Mexico’s San Luís 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’s best players in the campaign that led the team to an Uruguayan league title in 2023, the club’s first in more than a century.
Izquierdo returned to Nacional this year and was vying for a position in the starting lineup with veteran Sebastián Coates, who played for Uruguay’s national team. He played 23 matches this year and scored one goal.
