Enlarge image
Fabián O'Neill (right) celebrates one of his goals in 2003
Photo:
JAIME RAZURI / AFP
Former Uruguayan international and Juventus professional Fabián O'Neill is dead. He died at the age of just 49, the Uruguayan Football Association AUF announced on Sunday.
"Our condolences go to his family and friends," the association wrote on Twitter.
"Rest in peace."
According to a report in the newspaper »El País«, O'Neill was treated at the Médica Uruguaya hospital for chronic liver cirrhosis.
He had already been treated there in 2020 for severe liver disease.
According to media reports, he previously struggled with an alcohol problem for years.
"We are proud to have been able to admire your genius up close: pure, crystalline, like the most precious diamonds," wrote Cagliari Calcio on Twitter.
'Rest in peace, Fabian.
You will always be one of us.«
Active players also expressed their condolences, including Luis Suárez.
"May you rest in peace, Fabián," said Uruguay's record scorer via Twitter.
"A lot of strength for your family."
"Goodbye magician," tweeted O'Neill's hometown club Nacional Montevideo on Sunday.
France's world star Zinedine Zidane once described O'Neill as "the most talented player I've ever seen".
At the age of 21, O'Neill left his home country and was hired by Cagliari Calcio in Italy.
From there he moved to Juventus Turin in 2000 before returning to his homeland in 2003.
O'Neill has scored twice in 19 caps for Uruguay.
svs/dpa/sid
