Ecuadorean footballer Mario Pineida shot and killed

QUITO, Dec 18 (AFP): Ecuadoran footballer Mario Pineida was shot and killed in the port city of Guayaquil on Wednesday, his team said.
Guayaquil has become a hotspot for gang violence linked to drug trafficking and several football players in Ecuador have been targeted in recent months.
Pineida, 33, was part of Ecuador's national team during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup games. He also played for Fluminense in 2022.
In a post on X, his club, Barcelona SC, said it "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.
Pineida's death was confirmed by the Interior Ministry, which said it has assigned a special police unit to the case.
Digital news outlet Primicias reported Pineida was attacked by two people riding motorcycles, who opened fire on him, his mother and another woman.