Ecuador international Pineida dies in attack, club says

Ecuador international Mario Pineida died on Wednesday after being attacked in the city of Guayaquil, his Ecuadorian team Barcelona Sporting Club said in a statement.

Local media reported that the player, who was 33 years old, was killed in a gun attack outside a store in northern Guayaquil.

“Barcelona Sporting Club announces with great regret that it has been officially informed of the death of our player Mario Pineida, which occurred following an attack on him,” the club said on social media.

“This unfortunate news deeply upsets all of us who are part of the institution…,” it added.

Ecuadorian police said they were investigating the incident and did not provide details of the attack.

Pineida, who also spent a spell with Fluminense in Brazil, made nine appearances for Ecuador between 2015 and 2021.

Published on December 18, 2025