At the age of 33
©IMAGO
Former Ecuador international Mario Pineida was killed on the street in Guayaquil. His club Barcelona SC announced this in a statement “with deep regret.” “This sad news deeply saddens us,” it said.
The 33-year-old was shot by two men on a motorcycle on a commercial street on Wednesday. A woman who was traveling with Pineida was also killed, the newspaper “El Universo” wrote. Law enforcement authorities have begun an investigation into the incident.
Pineida took part in the Copa América twice
Pineida played nine international matches for Ecuador from 2014 to 2021, which will face Germany in the group stage of next summer’s World Cup. He also took part in the 2015 and 2021 Copa America tournaments. The full-back played for several top clubs in Ecuador and was also active in Brazil for Fluminense.
Once relatively safe, Ecuador is facing a serious security crisis. According to the Observatory for Organized Crime, the number of murders rose by 47 percent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year to the highest level in the country’s recent history. Several gangs fight for control of the lucrative drug business.