Uruguayan footballer and Nacional midfielder Juan Izquierdo has passed away in a hospital at the age of 28, according to an official statement from the club.
The club's statement read:
Nacional expresses its deepest sorrow and shock at the passing of our beloved player, Juan Izquierdo. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, teammates, and loved ones. The entire Nacional community mourns his irreplaceable loss.
It is important to note that on August 22, during the Round of 16 match of the Copa Libertadores against Brazilian club São Paulo, Izquierdo collapsed on the field in the 84th minute and required medical assistance. Following this incident, the Uruguayan Association for the Protection of Professional Footballers (MUFP) canceled all football matches in the country as a show of solidarity with the player.
Izquierdo joined Nacional in 2024 and was a member of the team that won the Uruguayan Championship in 2022.