Ecuadorian soccer player Mario Pineida, a 33-year-old defender for Barcelona de Guayaquil, was shot dead in an apparent attack, according to police reports on Wednesday. The incident occurred amid escalating violence in the Andean nation.
The Ecuadorian Interior Ministry confirmed Pineida's death but did not provide further details. Barcelona de Guayaquil released a statement expressing sorrow among fans regarding Pineida's death. The club further stated on X, "regrets to inform, with deep sorrow, that it has been officially notified of the death of our player Mario Pineida, an event that occurred following an attack against him” in Guayaquil.
Another person was killed in the attack, and a third individual sustained injuries. The identities of these individuals have not been released by the police. Digital news outlet Primicias reported that Pineida was attacked by two people riding motorcycles, who opened fire on him, his mother and another woman.
Pineida was part of Ecuador's national team during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments. He also played for Fluminense in 2022. Pineida began his professional career at Independiente del Valle, where he played from 2010 to 2015.
Ecuador, once considered one of Latin America's safest countries, has become a key cocaine transit hub between top producers Colombia and Peru, and consumers around the world. Guayaquil has become a hotspot for gang violence linked to drug trafficking, experiencing a surge in car bombings, shootings, and extortion. Between January and September, Guayaquil recorded 1,900 murders, marking the highest toll in Ecuador. Ecuador is expected to have its most violent year on record with more than 9,000 homicides, according to the Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime.
Several football players in Ecuador have been targeted in recent months. In September, three players from Ecuador's second division were killed, with one of them allegedly being linked to sports betting. In November, a 16-year-old footballer of Independiente del Valle died from a stray bullet, also in Guayaquil. A month later in October, local footballer Bryan Angula was wounded in a shooting.
The Interior Ministry has assigned a special police unit to investigate the case.
