Home / Crime and Justice / Ecuadorian Footballer Mario Pineida Shot Dead in Guayaquil
Ecuadorian Footballer Mario Pineida Shot Dead in Guayaquil
18 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Ecuador international Mario Pineida was fatally shot at age 33.
- The attack occurred on motorbikes in the northern city of Guayaquil.
- This incident occurs amid Ecuador's projected record-high homicide rate.
Ecuador international footballer Mario Pineida was shot dead at the age of 33 in Guayaquil. The attack, carried out by individuals on motorbikes, also resulted in another fatality and one injury. Pineida, who represented Ecuador nine times between 2014 and 2021, was killed in the northern part of the city.
This tragic event unfolds as Ecuador anticipates its most violent year on record, with projections indicating over 9,000 homicides. The country is grappling with organized crime linked to international drug cartels, a situation President Daniel Noboa has vowed to combat.
Pineida’s career included spells at Independiente del Valle and Barcelona de Guayaquil, where he won two league titles. He also had a brief stint with Brazil's Fluminense. His death follows other recent violent incidents involving young footballers in Guayaquil.
