Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Ecuadorian police confirmed that Mario Pineida, a 33-year-old defender for Barcelona de Guayaquil, was shot dead on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, in Guayaquil. The attack also killed another person, while a third was injured. The Interior Ministry confirmed Pineida’s death but gave no details about the incident. Barcelona de Guayaquil expressed sadness over the loss of the football star in an official statement.
Pineida began his professional career at Independiente del Valle from 2010 to 2015 before joining Barcelona de Guayaquil in 2016, where he won two league titles. In 2022, he had a short stint at Brazil’s Fluminense. Reports say the shooting happened in the Samanes area in northern Guayaquil, about 265 kilometers southwest of the capital, Quito.
Ecuador is facing a rising wave of violence, with the country expected to record more than 9,000 homicides this year. Last year, there were 7,063 violent deaths, and in 2023, 8,248. President Daniel Noboa has vowed to fight criminal organizations linked to international drug cartels that operate in the country.
This is not the first deadly incident in Guayaquil involving footballers. In November, a 16-year-old player from Independiente del Valle was killed by a stray bullet. Earlier, Maicol Valencia, Leandro Yépez, and Jonathan González also died from gunshot injuries. The deaths highlight the growing security challenges and the need for stronger measures to protect citizens and sports professionals in Ecuador.
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