Wednesday, July 2

World Cup: 20 Years Since Andrés Escobar Was Murdered Over 'Own Goal'


Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga  born 13 March 1967, was a Colombian footballer who played as a defender. He played for Atlético Nacional, BSC Young Boys, and the Colombia national team.

Escobar is best known for having been murdered in the aftermath of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the common belief is that his death was due to his own goal that eventually led Colombia out of the tournament, and which had supposedly caused gambling losses to several powerful drug lords of the time.

 However, many, including personal friends, teammates, and former coach Francisco Maturana, believe that his death had more to do with the general climate of lawlessness within Colombia at the time, and that the own goal played only an incidental role.

Escobar is still held in the highest regard by Colombian fans, and is especially mourned and remembered by Atlético Nacional's fans. Escobar is known for his famous line "Life doesn't end here".

Escobar was engaged to his girlfriend of five years, Pamela Cascardo, a dentist. He  was killed one month before their wedding was to have taken place.

After Andrés's death, his family founded the Andrés Escobar Project to help disadvantaged kids learn to play football.

He was shot six times outside a bar in Medellin, July 2nd 1994

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