Izquierdo, 27, died on Tuesday after spending five days in intensive care in Sao Paulo. "A warrior has departed," said Carlos Santurio, 79, among the Nacional fans who gathered to pay their respects.

"We lost a soldier in battle," added Bruno Haedo, a 29-year-old employee. A respectful silence, broken only by intense applause, filled the area outside the Club Nacional de Futbol, where Izquierdo's remains were honoured until 16:00 GMT after arriving on a Uruguayan military plane.

Five players from Sao Paulo, captain Rafinha, Michel Araujo, Jonathan Calleri, Wellington Rato, and Galoppo made a special trip to attend. "We did this from the heart. It happened on our field, in our stadium, and we all felt it like he was one of our family," Rafinha declared in Spanish. "We wanted to be here, to wish strength to the family, to the wife, to the parents."

Tears and disbelief marked the faces of people of all ages, from young children to elderly with canes, as they lined up to view the casket surrounded by floral arrangements, mostly sent by colleagues and clubs. A delegation from Penarol, Nacional's arch-rival, was also present, including key players, president Ignacio Ruglio, coach Diego Aguirre, and other officials.

Nacional president Alejandro Balbi, who supported Izquierdo's family during his final days in Sao Paulo, remembered him as "a great kid" and "very loved." "I'm destroyed, but I can't even begin to imagine what Juan's family is feeling. We will all move forward, hurt by this, but the player's family is what matters most to me today," he told reporters.

Izquierdo, father to a two-year-old girl, celebrated the birth of his second child just five days before the tragic match against Sao Paulo. Balbi, visibly emotional, shared that the footballer’s family had to face the painful task of issuing a birth certificate for the newborn and a death certificate for their father.

"Today I have to keep going for our children and find strength from somewhere... I will love you all my life, my warrior. This time we had to lose," wrote Selena, the footballer's wife, on social media. The farewell began on Wednesday, with dozens visiting Izquierdo's home with flowers, candles, and messages. Fans from both Nacional and Peñarol embraced, remembering the defender's time with the latter in 2019.

Football stars like Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan expressed their condolences for "Negron," as Izquierdo was affectionately known. "I cried for him, I cried for him, and I will keep crying," said Analia Raicoff, who travelled from Colonia del Sacramento, about 180 kilometres from Montevideo.

A lifelong Tricolor fan, she witnessed Izquierdo collapse during the fateful match on August 22, where Nacional faced Sao Paulo for a place in the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals, which the hosts won 2-0. Raicoff turned 37 on the same day Izquierdo died in Sao Paulo "after a cardiorespiratory arrest associated with cardiac arrhythmia," according to the hospital.

"It's horrifying; we can't do anything now but give strength to his family so they can get through this pain that they will never forget, and neither will we," she said, her voice breaking. "Neither death will separate us / From the sky, I will cheer for you," chanted the crowd outside the Tricolor's home as the casket was carried out amidst tears and sorrow.

There was no burial, as the player’s remains will be cremated, Nacional reported, declaring five days of mourning with flags at half-mast. FIFA president Gianni Infantino also expressed his sorrow, while the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) announced three days of mourning.

The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) declared mourning until Sunday, suspending all competitive activities. However, AUF president Ignacio Alonso stated that the friendly match between Uruguay and Guatemala will still take place on Sunday in Miami, as it is not organised by the federation.