Ecuadorian authorities confirmed on Wednesday night, December 17, that Mario Pineida, a 33-year-old defender for Barcelona de Guayaquil, lost his life in a shooting amid rising violence in the country.
Police reports indicate that another individual was also killed during the incident, while a third person sustained injuries. The Ecuadorian Interior Ministry verified Pineida’s death but did not release further details.
Barcelona de Guayaquil expressed deep sadness over the loss, stating that the club and its supporters are mourning the defender.
Pineida began his professional career with Independiente del Valle, where he played between 2010 and 2015. He joined Barcelona de Guayaquil in 2016, winning two league titles with the club. In 2022, he also had a short stint with Brazilian side Fluminense.
Local media reported that the incident occurred in the Samanes area in northern Guayaquil, about 265 kilometres (165 miles) southwest of the capital, Quito.
Ecuador is on track to record its most violent year, with over 9,000 homicides projected, according to the Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime. The country recorded 7,063 violent deaths last year, following a previous record of 8,248 in 2023.
President Daniel Noboa has vowed to confront criminal groups whose activities have expanded in Ecuador, often linked to international drug trafficking networks.
In recent months, football-related tragedies have also occurred. In November, a 16-year-old player from Independiente del Valle died after being struck by a stray bullet in Guayaquil. Earlier, Maicol Valencia and Leandro Yépez of Exapromo Costa, along with Jonathan González of 22 de Junio, also lost their lives due to gun-related incidents.
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