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Freddy Rincón, here at the 1990 World Cup, was one of the idols of Colombian football
Photo:
IMAGO/Mark Leech / IMAGO/Offside Sports Photography
Former Colombian footballer Freddy Rincón is dead. The former national team captain and ex-Real Madrid and SSC Napoli player succumbed to severe head injuries sustained in a traffic accident in Cali, southwestern Colombia on Wednesday.
This was reported by the treating physicians.
"Despite the best efforts of our medical and nursing team, the patient Freddy Eusebio Rincón Valencia died today," said a statement from the Clinica Imbanaco in Cali.
Rincón's ex-club América de Cali said goodbye to a "Colombian football legend".
"Football mourns," the club tweeted.
The 55-year-old Rincón was hospitalized in critical condition on Monday and underwent surgery for almost three hours.
There had previously been a violent collision between a bus and a van in which he was traveling.
The exact cause of the accident is not yet clear.
A generation with Valderrama and Asprilla
Along with Carlos Valderrama and Faustino Asprilla, as well as the spectacular goalkeeper René Higuita, Rincón belonged to the generation of outstanding players who qualified for a World Cup three times in a row – in 1990, 1994 and 1998.
In reference to his birthplace and stature, Rincón was venerated in his homeland as the »Colossus of Buenaventura«.
A goal by the midfielder at the 1990 World Cup in Italy in a group match against eventual world champion Germany became famous.
In injury time, Rincón shot the ball between goalkeeper Bodo Illgner's legs and into the goal – to make it 1-1.
Thanks to the goal, Colombia progressed.
In club football, Rincón played alongside his time in Europe for America de Cali in Colombia, Palmeiras São Paulo and SC Corinthians in Brazil.
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