Brighton star Julio Enciso has opened up on how his life was saved by a passenger during a mid-air emergency while traveling back to Paraguay.
The 20-year-old star was subjected to a medical emergency during his trip to join the Paraguay national team. Enciso reportedly started to feel unwell during the flight and subsequently lost consciousness, but was rescued by a quick-thinking passenger.
Following his reunion with the Paraguay national team, Enciso told Sports Witness, “My head hurts. I almost died, I fainted on the plane.”
”I was powerless, I didn’t eat or sleep well. At one point I got up to go to the bathroom and I felt like I was falling.
He added: ‘A guy grabbed me and took me to the front; He made me drink Coke and a Japanese soup and that did me good.”
Paraguay national team head coach Gustavo Alfaro will be hoping the youngster has made a full recovery ahead of their CONMEBOL qualifiers for the October international break.
Who is Julio Enciso?
Julio César Enciso Espínola, born January 23, 2004, is a professional footballer who plays for Brighton in the English Premier League and the Paraguay national team.
He grew up in a small neighborhood in the Caaguazu district of Paraguay with his parents, Luis and Angelina. Enciso started playing football on the streets of the Caaguazu district, where he was highly revered and given the nickname La Joya due to his insane skills.
Julio Enciso career
Enciso made his senior debut for local club Libertad, who signed him when he was 12. At 15, he made his senior appearance for the team, becoming the youngest player to ever do so in the team’s history.
On June 17, 2022, English side Brighton and Hove Albion brought the young talent to the Premier League for a transfer fee of £9.5m on a four-year contract.
He made his debut for the club in their Carabao Cup tie against League One side Forest Green, featuring for 80 minutes in the 3-0 win. He registered an assist in the match.
His Premier League debut didn’t come until October 29 although he made a substitute appearance in the 65th minute for Adam Lallana in a 4-1 win against Chelsea.
On May 24, 2023, Enciso scored a 25-yard thunderbolt against Manchester City, a goal that helped Brighton qualify for the UEFA Europa League spot and was also voted as the best goal of the season by the Premier League and the BBC.
Julio Enciso’s career stats
The youngster featured for Libertad in their domestic and international leagues for four years. He played a total of 75 games that period, scoring 24 times and winning the Copa Paraguay once.
He has so far spent three seasons at Brighton and Hove Albion, featuring 122 times for them, and has found the back of the net 29 times.
Julio Enciso’s international career
Enciso was a regular in the Paraguay national youth team before getting called up to represent the senior team at the 2021 Copa America.
He featured for the team for the first time in a 3-1 win against Bolivia in the 2021 Copa America. He has gone on to win 18 caps, scoring once
Julio Enciso contract
The 20-year-old is currently on a four-year contract with Brighton and earns £10,000 weekly and an annual salary of £520,000.
Julio Enciso’s key performances for Brighton
The youngster has had several key performances for Brighton in his relatively short stay on the team.
His performances against Chelsea back in April 2023 come to mind. In the match, he scored the winner as the Seagulls secured a 2-1 victory over the Blues. Encisco’s goal helped Brighton secure their first-ever victory over Chelsea.
He has also notably scored against big teams like Manchester City and Arsenal as a Brighton player.
