Gonzalez scored two penalties, one in regular time and again in the shootout, to help Paraguay beat Brazil 4-3 after a 1-1 draw as they advanced to face Argentina. But the spot-kick hero was later told the tragic news by his wife, who is currently in Chile.
His uncle, Irrazabal Manuel, was just 44 and watched the game with friends back in Paraguay.
The 21-year-old FC Basel forward later took to Twitter to post an image of his late uncle and included the message: "Why today uncle? Why? You left me after a heart attack because I gave you so much joy and so much happiness. I can't believe it,"
Tio xq hoy tio xqme dejaste x un infarto tio x darte una alegria y que te vayas con tanta felicidad no puedo creer pic.twitter.com/9HDECJXFEQ
— Derlis Gonzalez (@DerlisG10) June 28, 2015
It was the second tournament in succession that Paraguay have beaten Brazil on penalties at the quarter-final stage after knocking out Mano Menezes's side en route to the 2011 final.
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