Former Real Madrid and Colombia star passes away aged 55 after car crash

Former Real Madrid midfielder and Colombia international Freddy Rincon has died in hospital following his car crash on Monday morning.

The 55-year-old underwent a three-hour operation after suffering severe head injuries and had been “critical” in intensive care following a violent collision with a bus in the Colombian city of Cali.

Comunicado Oficial: fallecimiento de Freddy Rincón.#RealMadrid

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 14, 2022

Laureano Quintero, head medic at the private clinic where he had been admitted, announced the retired footballer had died just before midnight last night local time.

Rincon was a commanding midfielder who played for Colombian sides Santa Fe and America de Cali, while he also had spells in Europe with Napoli and Real Madrid.

Rincon captained Brazilian side Corinthians to the first Club World Championship title in 2000 and was also part of the ‘golden generation’ of Colombian players who took the national side to three consecutive World Cups in 1990, 1994 and 1998.

FCF lamenta el fallecimiento de Freddy Rincón.

🔗 https://t.co/e4VuoQEstG pic.twitter.com/sy3lxG3VNf

— FCF (@FCF_Oficial) April 14, 2022

Rincon scored 17 goals during his international career and was on the scoresheet against Argentina in a 5-0 World Cup qualifier victory in Buenos Aires in 1993.

After retiring, Rincon managed a number of lower-league sides in Brazil, while he also worked as a youth coach at former club Corinthians and as an assistant manager at Atletico Mineiro.

We join together with many in the world of football to remember Freddy Rincon.

Our sincere condolences go to his loved ones, former teammates and fans from the clubs he played for, and of the @FCFSeleccionCol national team who he represented at three World Cups.

Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/tJGTAKdnNm

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) April 14, 2022