The world of football and sports in general is mourning the death of Nacional footballer Juan Manuel Izquierdo, an event that has prompted multiple reactions from key figures in international football.

What happened to Juan Manuel Izquierdo?

Izquierdo was taken by ambulance from Morumbi Stadium, where the second leg of the Round of 16 match, which São Paulo won 2-0, was being played.

The player collapsed at the center of the field 39 minutes into the second half, immediately causing panic among the players of both teams, who urgently called for medical assistance.

Within just 27 seconds, the stadium’s ambulance entered to assist Izquierdo, who, during the broadcast, could be seen losing balance, moving to his right, and finally collapsing on the pitch.

He was then transported to the hospital, where he underwent a series of tests to determine his condition, as later disclosed by the Uruguayan club.

"Juan Izquierdo suffered a cardiac arrhythmia during the match against São Paulo," reported the club, adding that the 27-year-old footballer was in the intensive care unit of the Albert Einstein Hospital.

On August 23, it was communicated that Izquierdo remained stable from his cardiac arrhythmia and was kept sedated: "Update on Juan Izquierdo: According to the information provided by the treating doctors at Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo, Juan is stable from his cardiac arrhythmia. He remains sedated in the ICU, where he will continue under observation for the next 72 hours."

On August 25, another update was provided. "Admitted on August 22, 2024, at 8:55 PM, patient Juan Manuel Izquierdo underwent new tests this Sunday, 25th. The evaluation showed progression of brain involvement and an increase in intracranial pressure. Juan remains in neurological intensive care, dependent on mechanical ventilation," concluded the medical report.

A day earlier, the hospital had issued a medical bulletin detailing that Izquierdo had been admitted on Thursday with a cardiac arrest of indeterminate onset, secondary to an arrhythmia.

"The hospital immediately initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers, including the defibrillation procedure, and the patient regained spontaneous circulation. Since then, Juan has been in the Intensive Care Unit, sedated, on mechanical ventilation, and under intensive neurological care."

On August 27, it was reported by the hospital where he had been admitted for the past five days that he suffered "brain death following a cardiorespiratory arrest" associated with an arrhythmia.

"The Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital regrets to announce the death of Mr. Juan Manuel Izquierdo, who passed away on Tuesday, August 27, at 9:38 PM (local time), as a result of brain death following a cardiorespiratory arrest associated with an arrhythmia," stated the final bulletin.

Farewell to Juan Manuel Izquierdo 🕊️🙏

The world of sports, politics, and society is in mourning after receiving the unfortunate news of the death of the 27-year-old Uruguayan footballer in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, where he had been hospitalized since last Thursday with a critical neurological condition.