The world of Ecuadorian football is in deep shock following the confirmed murder of Mario Pineida, a player for Barcelona Sporting Club, who was killed in an armed attack on Wednesday in a region heavily affected by violence linked to drug trafficking.

The Guayaquil-based club announced the news through an official statement, triggering an outpouring of grief across South American football.

Pineida, 33, was a left-back and was in his second spell with El Ídolo del Astillero, having returned to the club in 2023 after playing for Brazil’s Fluminense.

During the second half of 2024, he had been on loan at El Nacional, but remained under contract with Barcelona SC.

“Barcelona Sporting Club informs, with deep sorrow, that it has been officially notified of the death of our player Mario Pineida, following an attack against him,” the club said in a statement.

“This tragic news deeply saddens everyone who is part of our institution and leaves the entire Barcelona family in mourning.”

Over the course of his career at Barcelona SC, Pineida made 224 official appearances, scored three goals, provided ten assists, and won the Ecuadorian league title twice. He was part of several squads that shaped one of the most successful periods in the club’s recent history.

International impact

Internationally, Pineida featured in Barcelona SC’s memorable run to the 2017 Copa Libertadores semifinals, one of the club’s best continental campaigns.

He was also part of the team that reached the semifinals again in 2021, before being eliminated by Flamengo.

At international level, Pineida earned eight caps for the Ecuador national team, playing in friendlies, the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, and the 2021 Copa América, where he registered an assist against Brazil.

During the 2025 season, Pineida began as a regular starter and even wore the captain’s armband, though his role diminished later in the year. Despite his reduced involvement, Barcelona SC finished the league as runners-up behind Independiente del Valle and secured qualification for the 2026 Copa Libertadores.

According to Ecuador’s emergency response system ECU-911, the shooting occurred at 3:53 p.m. local time while Pineida was shopping with two women.

Armed assailants, believed to have been following them, opened fire. Pineida and one of the women were killed at the scene.

Statement from partner clubs

Tributes quickly followed. Fluminense, where Pineida played in 2022, expressed condolences and recalled his role in their Rio de Janeiro state championship-winning squad. Ecuadorian clubs including LDU Quito and Independiente del Valle also issued messages of sympathy.

Beyond football, Pineida’s death highlights Ecuador’s ongoing security crisis, as escalating violence linked to organized crime continues to affect daily life and even high-profile figures.

Barcelona SC announced it will soon release details about memorial events to honor Pineida’s memory. Ecuadorian football now mourns Mario Pineida, a respected professional whose life was tragically cut short by violence far beyond the pitch.