Former Colombian soccer player Freddy Rincón dies at 55

Former Colombian soccer player Freddy Rincón died on Wednesday at 55 years old after suffering from a traffic accident on Monday in Cali, Colombia. The former player had a severe cranioencephalic trauma as a consequence of the crash.

Muere el único deportista que me hizo sentir la camiseta de fútbol colombiana,cuando en el mundial de Italia 90 , con su gol contra Alemania en la última jugada de el partido me hizo amar el fútbol por primera vez.

QEPD Freddy Rincón 😔 pic.twitter.com/N8LQuwEndQ

— Josmaestre13 (@Josmaestre131) April 14, 2022

"Despite all the efforts made by our medical and healthcare team, patient Freddy Eusebio Rincón Valencia died today," said the Imbanaco Clinic in a statement, where he was taken urgently after the crash.

"We would like to express our sincere condolences to his family, friends, loved ones and supporters around the globe. There will never be a way to express to them how it feels to lose one of our patients, whoever that patient may be," the Clinic's message added.

On Monday, the vehicle in which Rincón was traveling in collided with a Western Integrated Mass Transportation System (MIO) bus. A security camera video shows the collision, where the private vehicle in which the former soccer player was traveling with three other people was dragged by the bus. Rincón was not driving the vehicle, according to Cali authorities.

The mayor of Cali, Jorge Iván Ospina, informed that the vehicle in which the former soccer player was riding ran through a red light and therefore collided with the bus.

Momento exacto del accidente sufrido en horas de la madrugada de Freddy Rincón. El ex futbolista colombiano está en estado crítico en una clínica en la cuidad de Cali. pic.twitter.com/KWZzfJz0ZH

— Sergio Mendoza (@Sergio_MenM) April 11, 2022

"From one of the security cameras of one of the neighboring buildings, we can see the impact. We can see the possible recklessness on the part of the driver, the collision is very strong. The van, all the evidence shows us that it crossed the red light... they were also coming fastm causing the collision of this magnitude," Ospina added.

Rincón was a midfielder for the Colombian national team, where he was part of the group of stars that put Colombian soccer on the map in the 1990s. He also played for América de Cali (Colombia), Palmeiras (Brazil), Napoli (Italy), Real Madrid (Spain), as well as Santos, Cruzeiro, and Corinthians (Brazil). He also recently worked as a sports commentator.

Colombian President Iván Duque lamented the death of the former soccer player, claiming that "he was and will always be an idol of Colombian soccer."

Freddy Rincón fue y será siempre un ídolo del fútbol colombiano. Gracias Freddy por toda esa magia y esa fuerza en la cancha que nos inspiró y llenó de momentos inolvidables. Mis condolencias a sus familiares y amigos.

— Iván Duque 🇨🇴 (@IvanDuque) April 14, 2022

Rincón is considered one of the best foreign players in the history of the Brazilian league. He was also the protagonist of two highlights for the Colombian national team: First, a goal against Germany, which gave his team a place in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Italy '90. Second, he also scored two goals in Colombia's 5-0 win over Argentina in the qualifying round for the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Me quedo con este gol de Freddy Rincón a Alemania en el Mundial de Italia 90.

Gracias por todo CRACK😞 pic.twitter.com/lOObFhHVP5

— Daniel F. Briceño (@Danielbricen) April 12, 2022

The photo of Rincón's goal scream, where he appears with his mouth open and fists clenched as he celebrates the last-minute equalizer against Germany, is one of the most memorable postcards of Colombian soccer. "That goal was a catharsis," recalls sports journalist Nicolás Samper, quoted by El País.