Colombia mourns the departure of Freddy Rincón 3:22
(CNN) --
Freddy Rincón, a three-time World Cup player with the Colombian national team (in 1990, 1994 and 1998), died this Wednesday night after the brutal accident that occurred on Monday, according to the Imbanaco Grupo Quirónsalu Clinic, in the city. Colombian from Cali.
Former soccer player Freddy Rincón dies at the age of 55
The former Colombian soccer player is one of the greatest idols of his country's national team, widely remembered for the goal he scored in the last breath of the match against Federal Germany (which ended 1-1) in the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Colombia as one of the best third parties in the group stage, with which the country qualified for the round of 16 after 28 years of absence in the highest soccer tournament on the planet.
Freddy Rincón on the iconic goal against Germany in Italy 90 0:38
And just as he had moments of joy at the national team level, Rincón also experienced them at the club level by winning the league championship in Brazil three times (once with Palmeiras and twice with Corinthians);
twice the league championship in Colombia (with América de Cali);
and the Club World Cup on one occasion (with Corinthians), according to the Transfermarkt portal.
Freddy Rincón's time at Real Madrid
Without a doubt, his sweetest moments in clubs were with América de Cali and Corinthians, while the bitterest moments were lived at Real Madrid, a team for which he played one season (1995/1996).
Not everything started badly.
In fact, Rincón arrived and immediately set a record: being the first Colombian footballer in history to play for Real Madrid, the most successful club in Europe.
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Freddy Rincón: a soccer career full of glories 1:55
However, he had very little playing time.
In the season he was at Madrid, he played in 21 games (14 in the league, 4 in the Champions League, 2 in the Super Cup and 1 more in the Copa del Rey) for a total of 1,148 minutes, one assist and four yellow cards, indicates Transfermarkt .
The coach of Real Madrid at that time was the Argentine Jorge Valdano (world champion in 1986 as a footballer), who declared a few days ago to Diario AS Colombia that the Colombian arrived in Madrid at a time of great crisis and that is why the club did not was able to enjoy the potential of Freddy Rincón.
"He came to Madrid at a time of great institutional crisis and Freddy paid for it as a player, just as I paid for it as a coach," Valdano said, referring to the fact that his cycle as technical director of the Merengues also ended quickly, like the passing of Rincón.
For his part, Freddy Rincón pointed out in April 2020 to Gol Caracol that to succeed at Real Madrid he needed to "be white", which is related to the problems of racism that he experienced in the merengue club.
"I lacked being white. I didn't suffer racism day by day, but, to play for Real Madrid, yes. With Valdano it was very difficult because they had a lot of pressure on him," commented Rincón. "I would have liked to play more at Real Madrid.
That is a thorn that stuck with me.
If I had the opportunity that I thought I was going to have, I really would have succeeded there," he added.
But with the good energy that always characterized him, he said he was grateful, because his time in Madrid made him grow as a person.
Likewise, Real Madrid, after the news of Rincón's death, issued a statement in which it said it "deeply" regretted the event.
"Real Madrid wants to express its condolences and its love and affection to all his relatives, his teammates and coaches, his clubs and all his loved ones (...). Freddy Rincón has passed away at the age of 55. The Real Madrid extends its condolences to all of Real Madrid," he said in the statement.
With information from Patrick Sung, Amy Woodyatt, and Matias Grez.
ColombiaFreddy Rincon