Brighton Star Julio Enciso Experiences Medical Emergency En Route to Paraguay

Julio Enciso, a prominent footballer for Brighton & Hove Albion and the Paraguayan national team, recently revealed a harrowing experience during his journey to South America for international duty. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder shared that he “almost died” after fainting on a flight bound for Paraguay to join the national squad for their World Cup qualifying matches against Ecuador and Venezuela.

Enciso reported feeling unwell mid-flight, culminating in his loss of consciousness. “My head hurts. I almost died, I fainted on the plane,” Enciso was quoted saying by Paraguayan media. “I was powerless; I didn’t eat or sleep well. At one point, I got up to go to the bathroom and felt like I was falling.”

A fellow passenger, whom Enciso referred to as a “good Samaritan,” intervened to provide assistance. The passerby offered him a can of Coca-Cola and some Japanese soup, which helped revive him. Enciso’s health scare has raised concerns about his participation in Paraguay’s upcoming World Cup qualifier against Ecuador on Thursday.

Currently, Paraguay faces a challenging qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, with only nine points from eight games. This places them in a precarious position, risking elimination from the tournament. Enciso, who has been capped 19 times for Paraguay since 2021, is a critical player for his national team.

Enciso initially made headlines for his extraordinary debut season with Brighton, most notably for a Puskas Award-nominated goal against Manchester City in 2022, which finished third in the competition. Despite a challenging, injury-laden previous season, he recently played a crucial role in Brighton’s dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Tottenham.

Brighton’s head coach, Fabian Hurzeler, emphasized the importance of discipline for young players like Enciso. “You have to give them [young players] freedom because, in the end, they can make the difference,” Hurzeler commented. “On the other side, it’s crucial that everyone understands my principles: success comes only when you work together as a team. I think Julio is improving in these things.”