GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador: Ecuadorean footballer Mario Pineida was shot and killed on Wednesday in Guayaquil, authorities and his club confirmed. Pineida, 33, was attacked while with family, highlighting rising gang violence in the city. Police have assigned a special unit to investigate the killing.
Pineida played for Ecuador’s national team in 2018 and 2022 World Cup qualifiers but was not selected for the 2022 finals in Qatar. He also had a stint with Brazil’s Fluminense in 2022. His club, Barcelona SC, expressed “deep sorrow” over his death in a post on X.
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According to reports, Pineida was attacked by two motorcyclists who opened fire on him, his mother, and another woman. The interior ministry confirmed the incident and said it is actively investigating the circumstances of the attack.
Guayaquil has become a hotspot for gang-related violence, drug trafficking, and attacks on footballers. In recent months, three second-division players were killed, while local footballer Bryan Angula was wounded in a separate shooting.
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Ecuador, historically one of Latin America’s safer countries, now faces a surge in crime due to its role as a cocaine transit hub. Guayaquil alone recorded 1,900 murders between January and September, marking the highest toll in the nation.