Ecuador’s Barcelona Player Mario Pineida Tragically Murdered

The football community is grieving the loss of Mario Pineida, a player for Ecuador’s Barcelona Sporting Club. Pineida, a 33-year-old left-back, was tragically murdered in a violent incident linked to drug-related crime. The attack took place on a Wednesday afternoon, confirmed by his club and reported by AFP.

Career Overview of Mario Pineida

Mario Pineida began his professional career in local clubs but made a significant impact at Barcelona SC. He joined the club in 2023 after playing for Fluminense in Brazil. During his time at Barcelona SC, he made 224 appearances, scoring 3 goals and providing 10 assists. He contributed to the team becoming local champions twice.

International Representation

Pineida represented Ecuador in eight matches, contributing an assist. His international career included appearances in friendly matches, World Cup qualifiers for Russia 2018, and the Copa América 2021 against Brazil.

Recent Season and Performance

• In early 2025, Pineida started the season as a regular starter and even captained the team.
• He missed the last 23 matches of the league, with few appearances on the bench.
• Barcelona SC finished as runners-up in the league, securing a spot in the Copa Libertadores 2026.

Pineida also played in the current Copa Libertadores edition. He started as a starter in the second phase but received a red card early in the second match, which limited his participation for the rest of the tournament.

Community Reactions

Barcelona SC released a formal statement expressing their sorrow over Pineida’s death, stating, “This unfortunate news deeply shocks everyone in our institution.” They are currently organizing memorial events for him.

Other football clubs, including Fluminense and Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito, also expressed their condolences. Fluminense recalled Pineida’s contributions during his time with them in 2022, while Liga Deportiva Universitaria extended their sympathies to Barcelona SC.

Details of the Incident

The tragic incident occurred at 15:53 local time according to the ECU-911 emergency services report. Pineida was shopping with two women when assailants, allegedly following them, opened fire, resulting in his death and that of one companion.

Mario Pineida’s premature departure symbolizes yet another episode of violence affecting sports figures in Ecuador. His legacy will endure through the memories shared by his teammates and fans, as they come together to mourn his loss.