Colombian football 'Colossus' Freddy Rincon dies aged 55
Colombian former international midfield star Freddy Rincon died on Wednesday aged 55 of injuries he sustained in a traffic accident, doctors said.
Rincon suffered a severe head injury following a collision on Monday between the vehicle he was travelling in and a bus in the southwest city of Cali.
The former Real Madrid and Napoli ace underwent almost three hours of surgery before being transferred to intensive care, but died on Wednesday.
"Despite all the efforts made by our medical and care team, the patient Freddy Eusebio Rincon Valencia has died today," said the Imbanaco Clinic in Cali, which was treating him.
Colombia's football federation, the FCF, said his death was "a great loss" and "we will miss him and remember him with great affection, appreciation, respect and admiration."
"The Colombian Football Federation deeply regrets the death of Freddy Eusebio Rincon Valencia, and sends a message of support and encouragement to his family, friends and relatives at this difficult time," it said in a statement.
Rincon was born in the southwestern port city of Buenaventura and was known as the "Colossus" during his career.
He was a star of the Colombia side that played at the World Cup in Italy in 1990 and also featured at two more World Cups.
Rincon spent much of his career in Brazil, turning out for Palmeiras and Corinthians, where he won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2000.
World football's governing body FIFA expressed "sincere condolences" to Rincon's "loved ones, former teammates and fans from the clubs he played for."
Rincon was part of a talented Colombian team that qualified for the 1990 World Cup finals, ending their 28-year absence from football's most prestigious tournament.
He also had a stint with Napoli and then joined Real Madrid.
He hung up his boots in 2004 after a final season with the Corinthians.
The midfielder was previously involved in a serious traffic accident in 2013 in which he suffered several fractures and a head injury.
After Monday's fatal accident, local media broadcast a video in which a van is seen crossing an intersection when a bus hits it on the passenger side.
After Monday's fatal accident, local media broadcast a video in which a van is seen crossing an intersection when a bus hits it on the passenger side.
In these images "it seems that the traffic light is red when the van crosses and there could also have been speeding" by the van or the bus, according to the Cali mayor's office.
