Ecuadorian Footballer Mario Pineida Shot and Killed in Guayaquil

Ecuadorian footballer Mario Pineida has been shot and killed in the port city of Guayaquil, his club confirmed on Wednesday.

Pineida, 33, was a member of Ecuador’s national team for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and played for Fluminense in 2022.

In a post on X, his club, Barcelona SC, expressed deep sorrow, stating it “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.

The Interior Ministry also confirmed Pineida’s death and said a special police unit has been assigned to investigate the case. Reports indicate that Pineida was attacked by two individuals on motorcycles, who opened fire on him, his mother, and another woman.

Guayaquil has become a hotspot for gang violence linked to drug trafficking, and several footballers in Ecuador have been targeted in recent months. In September, three players from Ecuador’s second division were killed, one reportedly connected to sports betting, while local footballer Bryan Angula was wounded in a shooting a month later.