Death of Bruno Betancor, former Peñarol player, shakes Uruguayan football at the age of 22

Uruguayan football was surprised by the sad news of the death of Bruno Betancor, a young 22-year-old player who currently played for Deportivo Italiano. He died due to a cardiorespiratory arrest on July 23, 2026. Betancor was considered a promise in the sport, having been champion with Peñarol in the 2023 season.

Career details and spells at big clubs

Peñarol released the news of the death on social media, deeply regretting the loss of the athlete. Betancor was part of the Aurinegro squad in 2023, contributing to winning the Apertura Tournament. Before his time at Deportivo Italiano, the midfielder also defended the colors of Everton, from Chile, in the 2024 season, showing a trajectory of rapid rise in South American football.

Betancor’s trajectory in the Uruguayan countryside

During his stay at Club Atlético Peñarol, Bruno Betancor participated in 14 official matches. In these games, the team recorded four wins, three draws and seven defeats. He debuted on March 25, 2023, in a match against Liverpool, valid for the Apertura Tournament, and said goodbye to the club on December 16 of the same year, also in a match against Liverpool, this time in the final of the Uruguayan Championship.

Condolences and mourning from the sports community

The Uruguayan Mutual Association of Professional Footballers confirmed what happened in a statement, expressing its condolences. In addition to Peñarol, several clubs in Uruguay expressed their regret at the athlete’s departure. Club Atlético Cerro, for example, published a note of “profound sadness”, highlighting that Betancor “knew how to wear and defend with commitment” the institution’s colors. Centro Atlético Fénix also remembered the player’s time in its youth ranks, sending “its most sincere condolences” to his family and friends.