IBarcelona de Guayaquil international footballer Mario Pineida has been killed in an armed attack in the north of Guayaquil, Ecuador’s most populous and violent city, according to the Interior Ministry and the club.
“The Barcelona Sporting Club officially informs us that it is with deep regret that our player Mario Pineida has been killed in an attack,” Barcelona Sporting Club said in a statement.
The club said it was “deeply embarrassed” by the news of his death and “the Barcelona family expresses its condolences.”
The club also said it would announce his memorable act in the coming hours. Barcelona added: “We ask our members, fans and public opinion to pray for the peace of his soul and for strength to his family in this moment of intense pain.”
Police search the scene as the body of murdered soccer player Mario Pineida lies on the floor.
Career of 33-year-old Ecuadorian international Mario Pineida
Ecuador national team moves from U-15 to senior national team
Fourth armed attack on soccer players this year in Ecuador
So far this year, there have been at least four armed attacks on professional club soccer players in Ecuador, including the killing of 22 de Julio midfielder Jonathan “Speedy” Gonzalez on September 19 in the Esmeraldas department on the Colombian border.
Ecuador has been living under an “internal armed conflict” since 2024, declared by President Daniel Novoa to intensify the fight against organized crime, which the government blames for the rise in violence in the Andean mountain country in recent years.
On average, there is one murder per hour.
