Mario Pineida, former football star, killed in Ecuador violence.

Former Fluminense star Mario Pineida, a 33-year-old Barcelona de Guayaquil defender and former Ecuador national team player, was shot dead in an attack in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The incident, which also resulted in another death and one injury, occurred in the region of Samanes. Pineida, who played eight games for Ecuador, was a victim of escalating violence in the country, with Guayaquil being a hotspot for gang violence linked to drug trafficking. President Daniel Noboa has pledged to combat criminal organizations as Ecuador faces its most violent year on record, with more than 9,000 homicides expected.

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