Ecuadorian international defender Mario Pineda was shot dead in the coastal city of Guayaquil on Wednesday, as announced by his club Barcelona SC.
The city of Guayaquil has become a hotspot for gang-related violence and drug trafficking, with numerous football players in Ecuador being targeted in recent months.
The killing of Pineda, player of Ecuadorian Barcelona, by shooting
Pineda, (33 years old), was part of the Ecuadorian national team in the 2018 World Cup but was absent from the 2022 World Cup and also wore the jersey of Fluminense of Brazil on loan the same year.
Barcelona SC stated on the "X" platform, "With deep sorrow, we regret to inform you that we have been officially notified of the death of our player Mario Pineda, an event that occurred following an attack he suffered in Guayaquil."
The club asked its fans to "pray for the repose of his soul and the courage of all his family members."
The Ecuadorian Minister of Interior confirmed the death of Pineda, announcing the assignment of a special police unit "to investigate the case."
The news site "Premicias" reported that Pineda was attacked by two individuals riding a motorcycle, who fired at him, his mother, and another woman who also died.
In September, three players from the second division in Ecuador were killed, with one allegedly involved in sports betting. A month later, player Brian Angulo was injured in a shooting.
Ecuador, once considered one of the safest countries in Latin America, has become a major hub for the transit of cocaine between its largest producers, Colombia and Peru, and consumers around the world.
Guayaquil has seen a rise in car bombings, shootings, and extortion, with 1,900 murders recorded between January and September, the highest rate in Ecuador.
