Ecuadorian footballer Mario Pineida killed in Guayaquil shooting
Ecuadorian footballer Mario Pineida was fatally shot in Guayaquil on June 5, 2025. The city has seen a surge in gang violence, with several players targeted recently. Pineida, 33, was a former national team member and played for Fluminense in 2022. Authorities have launched an investigation into the attack.
What we know
- Mario Pineida was attacked by two people on motorcycles who opened fire on him, his mother, and another woman.
- His club, Barcelona SC, confirmed his death and expressed deep sorrow over the loss.
- The Ecuadorian interior ministry assigned a special police unit to investigate the incident.
- Guayaquil has experienced a spike in violent crime, with 1,900 murders recorded between January and September.
- Other footballers in Ecuador have also been targeted in recent months amid rising gang-related violence.
