Shock and grief have hit Ecuador’s football community following the killing of national team defender Mario Pineida in the port city of Guayaquil. His club, Barcelona SC, confirmed on Wednesday that the 33-year-old footballer died after he was attacked in the city.
Guayaquil has increasingly become a hotspot for gang-related violence tied to drug trafficking, and athletes have not been spared. In recent months, several footballers in Ecuador have been targeted, raising fresh concerns about safety and security in the country.
Pineida was a well-known figure in Ecuadorian football, having represented the national team at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. He also played abroad, featuring for Brazilian side Fluminense in 2022, before returning home.
Barcelona SC announced his death in a statement on X, saying the club received official confirmation that Pineida died following an attack in Guayaquil. The Interior Ministry also confirmed the incident and disclosed that a special police unit has been assigned to investigate the case.
Local media outlet Primicias reported that Pineida was attacked by assailants on motorcycles, during which he, his mother, and another woman were hit by gunfire. Authorities are yet to release full details as investigations continue.
Ecuador’s worsening security situation has alarmed many. Once regarded as one of the safest countries in Latin America, it has become a major transit route for cocaine between Colombia and Peru and international markets. Violence, including shootings, car bombings, and extortion, has surged—especially in Guayaquil, which recorded about 1,900 murders between January and September, the highest in the country.
Pineida’s death adds to a troubling pattern. In September alone, three second-division footballers were killed, while another local player, Bryan Angula, was wounded in a separate attack a month later, deepening fears within the sporting community.
