Ecuadorian Footballer Mario Pineida Killed in Guayaquil Shooting

Ecuadorian authorities have confirmed that Mario Pineida, a 33‑year‑old defender for Barcelona Sporting Club and former national team player, was shot dead in an attack in the northern part of Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city. The incident also resulted in the death of another person and left a third individual injured.

Pineida, who began his professional career with Independiente del Valle before joining Barcelona de Guayaquil in 2016 and later spending time with Brazil’s Fluminense, earned nine caps for Ecuador and featured in Copa América tournaments. His club expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing his death as a profound blow to the team and its supporters.

The shooting occurred amid rising violent crime in Ecuador, with authorities investigating the circumstances surrounding Pineida’s death as the nation continues to address public safety challenges.