Ecuadorian footballer Mario Pineida has been fatally shot in Guayaquil, his club confirmed on Wednesday.

Pineida, 33, represented Ecuador at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and also played for Fluminense in 2022.

Barcelona SC took to X to express their grief, saying the club “regrets to inform, with deep sorrow, that it has been officially notified of the death of our player Mario Pineida, an event that occurred following an attack against him” in Guayaquil.

The Interior Ministry confirmed his death and stated that a special police unit has been assigned to investigate the incident. Reports indicate that Pineida was attacked by two assailants on motorcycles, who opened fire on him, his mother, and another woman.

Guayaquil has seen a surge in gang-related violence linked to drug trafficking, with several Ecuadorian footballers being targeted in recent months. In September, three second-division players were killed, one allegedly connected to sports betting, while in October, local footballer Bryan Angula was injured in a separate shooting.