A 22-year-old footballer has been left fighting for his life after suffering a stroke shortly after a match – with his girlfriend sharing an emotional post
A 22-year-old footballer is fighting for his life in intensive care after suffering a stroke shortly after a full-time whistle.
Lautaro Fagioli, who had been playing for Colón de San Justo in Argentina, fell ill at home just hours after last Sunday’s game on May 31. He was quickly rushed to hospital, where he was diagnosed with an ischaemic stroke.
Bruno Moroni – director of José María Cullen Hospital in Santa Fe, Argentina – has now opened up about the player’s treatment. He said: “He is in intensive care, on a ventilator, receiving medication to support his blood pressure, and his prognosis remains uncertain.”
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Lautaro has played for regional side Colón de San Justo, who qualified for the third round of the Copa Santa Fe following their clash with Central San Carlos, after previously representing Guadalupe in Costa Rica.
The Santa Fe League has issued a message calling for prayers for Lautaro’s recovery, as reported by NeedToKnow.
It said: “Stay strong, Lauti! Everyone at Todo Liga SF is joining together in a prayer chain for the health of Lautaro Fagioli, a Colón de San Justo player who suffered an ischaemic stroke and is currently being treated at Cullen Hospital.
“Here it doesn’t matter which team you support – we can all do our bit by saying a prayer for the recovery of the Conquistador player.”
Away from the pitch, he and his partner, Sol Baroni, have a one-year-old daughter, Alfonsina.
Sol has also shared her own message of hope, posting an image of Alfonsina looking tenderly at a photograph of Lautaro holding her, captioned: “With all the faith in the world.”
Stroke rates in older adults have been declining, but cases in people under 55 have risen over the past 10–20 years, with around 20,000 new “young stroke” cases annually in the UK, according to a 2024 study.
Football itself is not considered a stroke risk factor. If anything, it is generally protective, as footballers tend to have lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels and higher overall cardiovascular fitness.
However, elite athletes can still suffer rare strokes linked to underlying or undiagnosed medical conditions, which may only become apparent after an event.