Soccer players who collapsed on the pitch -

Soccer players are undoubtedly some of the fittest people on earth. But sometimes even the best have hidden underlying health conditions that can knock them down. Sadly, the history of the sport is tainted with stories of players who have collapsed on the pitch. From heart attacks to accidents that rendered them unconscious, we've seen our fair share of soccer stars collapsing.

Uruguayan soccer player Juan Izquierdo has tragically passed away after collapsing on the pitch last week. The 27-year-old was playing for Club Nacional against Sāo Paulo at Brazil’s Morumbi stadium on August 22 when he suddenly fell to the ground. He was rushed to the hospital and it was determined that he was suffering from cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. He was receiving treatment but had to be put on a ventilator and was in critical care. The terrible news came on August 28 that he had died. “It is with the deepest sorrow and shock in our hearts that the Club Nacional announces the death of our beloved player Juan Izquierdo,” his team wrote on X. “We express our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones. All of Nacional is in mourning for his irreparable loss.”

Browse through the following gallery and revisit more of the terrifying moments when soccer players collapsed during a game.

© Getty Images

Tom Lockyer -

Luton Town's Premier League match against Bournemouth was suspended on December 16, 2023, after Tom Lockyer collapsed. The Luton captain, 29, fell to the ground suddenly in the 58th minute of the game and was quickly surrounded by first responders. Players from both teams were sent off while Lockyer received life-saving treatment. It was later revealed that Lockyer had gone into cardiac arrest during the game, but made a full recovery. Lockyer had a similar scare in May 2023 after briefly passing out during a match against Coventry City. He was taken to hospital where he learned he was suffering from atrial fibrillation, a condition that cause an irregular and abnormally fast heartbeat. After undergoing heart surgery, he was given the all-clear to play again in June.

© Getty Images

Christian Eriksen -

The player suffered cardiac arrest and was given CPR on the pitch before being taken to a hospital in June 2021. Though he recovered, he was unsure if he would ever be able to play professionally again. 

© Getty Images

Christian Eriksen -

Just seven months after he collapsed, Eriksen had signed a six-month deal with Brentford to continue his sport professionally. "Happy to announce that I've signed with Brentford Football Club," Eriksen revealed on his Instagram in January 2022. "I can't wait to get started and hopefully I'll see you all very soon."

© Getty Images

Bafétimbi Gomis -

The French striker has a medical condition (reportedly reflex syncope), which has caused him to faint on the pitch numerous times throughout the years.

© Getty Images

Fabrice Muamba -

The English midfielder collapsed on the pitch in 2012 due to cardiac arrest, this during a game between the Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur.

© Getty Images

Fabrice Muamba -

Muamba was reported dead for 78 minutes before he was revived. He survived, but retired shortly after, at the age of 24.

© Getty Images

Daniel Jarque -

The Espanyol player died from cardiac arrest after a training session on August 8, 2009. You may remember that Andrés Iniesta honored him after scoring the World Cup-winning goal for Spain in 2010.

© Getty Images

Miklós Fehér -

The former Benfica player collapsed on January 25, 2004, during a game.

© Getty Images

Miklós Fehér -

The Hungarian striker ended up passing away as a result of cardiac arrhythmia. "Miki" Fehér was 24.

© Getty Images

Marc-Vivien Foé -

The Cameroonian player collapsed during a Confederations Cup game in 2003 due to a heart attack. Though resuscitation attempts were made, he didn't survive.

© Getty Images

Antonio Puerta -

The Sevilla player collapsed on the pitch and regained consciousnesses. He then collapsed again in the dressing room.

© Getty Images

Antonio Puerta -

The Spanish midfielder died three days later, on August 28, 2007, of a heart disease known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, following several cardiac arrests.

© Getty Images

Cheick Tioté -

The midfielder fainted during training with Chinese club Beijing Enterprises. The Ivorian player ended up dying in hospital on June 5, 2017. He's pictured while still a Newcastle United player.

© Getty Images

Phil O'Donnell -

The Scottish midfielder collapsed and died of heart failure during a game for his team Motherwell in December 2007. This happened right before he was substituted.

© Getty Images

Patrick Ekeng -

On May 6, 2016, the Cameroonian defensive midfielder collapsed on the pitch while representing his club Dinamo București. He was transported to the hospital, where he died two hours later.

© Getty Images

Naoki Matsuda -

On August 2, 2011, the Japanese player collapsed during training due to cardiac arrest. He died two days later. He's pictured playing for the team where he spent 15 years, the Yokohama F. Marinos.

© Getty Images

Piermario Morosini -

The Italian midfielder died on April 14, 2012, after suffering a heart attack and collapsing during a game between Livorno and Pescara.

© Getty Images

Alex Apolinario -

On January 3, 2021, the Alverca player went into cardiac arrest on the pitch in Portugal. The Brazilian player eventually died four days later.

© Getty Images

Moïse Brou Apanga -

The Gabonese defender born in the Ivory Coast died of a heart attack during training on April 26, 2017. He's pictured while still a player for Brest in 2012.

© Getty Images

Gregory Mertens -

On April 30, 2015, the Belgian player died of heart failure, three days after collapsing during a game, while playing for Lokeren. He was 24 years old.

© Getty Images

Matt Gadsby -

The English player died on September 9, 2006, after collapsing while playing for Hinckley United. Gadsby (pictured here playing for the Kidderminster Harriers) reportedly died from a heart condition known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

© Getty Images

Bernardo Ribeiro -

The Brazilian player died of a heart attack on May 7, 2016, while playing for Ideal EC. He's pictured here when playing for the Newcastle Jets.

© Getty Images

Endurance Idahor -

The Nigerian player collapsed while playing for Sudanese club Al-Merreikh on March 6, 2010. He died while being transported to hospital.

© Getty Images

Choirul Huda -

The Indonesian goalkeeper collided with a teammate during a game, suffering injuries to his jaw and head. The Persela Lamongan player ended up dying later, in hospital.

© Getty Images

Renato Curi -

The Italian midfielder collapsed during a game between his team, Perugia, and Juventus, in October 1977. He died of a heart attack. 

© Public Domain

Serhiy Perkhun -

The goalkeeper for CSKA Moscow passed away in 2001, following a coma. He accidentally collided with a player during a game and suffered a knock to the head.

© Getty Images

Jeanine Christelle Djomnang -

The Cameroonian goalkeeper collapsed while warming up for a game on May 8, 2016. The cause of her death was reportedly a heart attack.

Sources: (Reuters) (BeSoccer) 

See also: Sports stars who died too young

© Getty Images