South American football community has been thrown into mourning following the killing of Ecuador international Mario Pineida Guayaquil on Wednesday, December 17. Pineida, who represented his country with pride, lost his life during a violent attack that has once again raised alarm over the high level of insecurity in Ecuador.
According to local reports, the 33-year-old was fatally shot outside a shop in the northern part of Guayaquil. The shocking news sent grief across the country, especially among supporters of Barcelona Sporting Club, where Pineida was a legend.
Barcelona Sporting Club has described the death of Mario Pineida as a huge loss to the football community in Ecuador. Barcelona SC wrote:
“Barcelona Sporting Club, informs, with deep regret, that it has been officially notified of the death of our player Mario Pineida, a fact that occurred after an attack against him. This unfortunate news makes all of us who are part of the institution deeply dismayed.
Ecuadorian police confirmed that another person was killed in the incident, while a third individual was injured. Pineida’s cousin has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that the footballer’s wife was killed in the gun violence, per Al Jazeera.
Pineida made eight appearances for Ecuador, featuring in qualification campaigns for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, but he was not part of the squad during the 2026 qualifying run, per.
His final appearance for the national team came at the 2021 Copa América, where he was introduced as a late substitute in a group-stage match against Brazil. He was also a member of the squad at the 2017 Copa America.
Tributes pour in
@denoyagel1 said:
“Heartbreaking news 💔
“A life taken far too soon. Our deepest condolences to Mario Pineida’s family, his wife, his mother, his teammates at Barcelona SC, and the entire Ecuadorian football community. May he rest in peace, and may his loved ones find strength in this unimaginable moment.”
About the Author
