Ecuador Football In Mourning After Mario Pineida Shot Dead In Guayaquil
Ecuadorian football has been plunged into deep mourning following the tragic shooting death of former international defender Mario Pineida in Guayaquil, amid rising violence in the country.
Ecuador international footballer Mario Pineida has been shot dead at the age of 33 in a shocking incident that has sent waves of grief across the nation’s sporting fraternity.
According to local reports, Pineida was attacked on Wednesday in the Samanes area, in the northern part of Guayaquil, when assailants arrived on motorbikes and opened fire. His mother and another woman were also caught in the attack. One other person was killed, while a third sustained injuries.
The Ecuador Interior Ministry confirmed Pineida’s death but did not disclose further details surrounding the shooting. Police and military units were deployed to the scene as investigations began.
Barcelona de Guayaquil, one of the country’s biggest clubs and a former team of the defender, expressed sorrow over the loss, saying their supporters were devastated by the tragic news.
Pineida earned nine caps for the Ecuador national team between 2014 and 2021. His final appearance came during the 2021 Copa America, where he featured as a late substitute in a group stage match against Brazil. He was also part of the squad for the 2017 Copa America.
At club level, Pineida began his professional career with Independiente del Valle, where he played from 2010 to 2015. He later joined Barcelona de Guayaquil in 2016, winning two league titles during his time at the club. In 2022, the left back had a short stint with Brazilian side Fluminense.
His death comes at a time when Ecuador is experiencing a surge in violent crime. The country is on course for its most violent year on record, with more than 9,000 homicides reported so far, surpassing figures recorded in 2023 and 2024. President Daniel Noboa has vowed to intensify the fight against criminal organizations linked to international drug cartels.
Football in Ecuador has increasingly been touched by gun violence. In November, a 16 year old player from Independiente del Valle was killed by a stray bullet in Guayaquil. Earlier in the year, Maicol Valencia, Leandro Yepez and Jonathan Gonzalez, all semi professional footballers, also lost their lives to gunshot wounds.
Pineida’s untimely death adds to a growing list of footballers whose lives have been cut short, leaving the Ecuadorian football community grappling with yet another painful loss.
