Former Birmingham striker Christian 'Chucho' Benítez dies at 27

Christian Rogelio Benítez Betancourt (May 1, 1986 - July 29, 2013), also known as Chucho, was an Ecuadorian footballer who played as a forward for El Jaish of the Qatar Stars League. He began his career with El Nacional in Ecuador and then joined Santos Laguna, with whom he won the award for Best Player of the Clausura 2008. He spent the 2009–10 season on loan to Premier League club Birmingham City. He was a member of the Ecuador national football team.

Benítez was a member of the Ecuador national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Although considered by many as a surprise selection by Ecuador's Colombian-born coach Luis Fernando Suarez, he had impressed with his speed, elusiveness and skill in pre-World Cup showings against Netherlands, Japan and the 2006 Copa Libertadores experience. He was a candidate for the Gillette Best Young Player Award, a new award made at the end of the FIFA World Cup to the best young player born on or after January 1, 1985. His only appearance was in the 3–0 loss to Germany, replacing Felix Borja midway through the match.

His first international goal came in September 2006 against Peru. Then in April 2007, he scored another goal against Peru in Ecuador's 2–0 win in a friendly held in the Mini Estadi in Barcelona, Spain. He also scored in a 1–1 draw with the Republic of Ireland in a friendly match played in New Jersey on May 23, 2006. This added to the belief that he could excel in Europe.

Benítez started all three games during the 2007 Copa América, scoring against Chile. Despite his attacking flair, Ecuador were eliminated in the first stage, losing all three matches. In an international friendly against El Salvador on September 8, 2007, Benítez scored twice in an emphatic 5–1 home win in Quito.

In a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, he scored a goal. Two months later, he showed his ability in the air as well when he scored the only goal of the match with a header against Chile.

On July 29, 2013, Benítez entered to a hospital in Doha, Qatar because of a "strong pain" in the abdomen. According to Miguel Herreraand other football partners, in interview with Matutino Express, he did not received immediate medical revision and a few hours later Benítez started to has a respiratory failure. He died from complications leading to cardiac arrest at the age of 27.