Mexican security forces rescued football star Alan Pulido, who was found "alive and well" hours after being kidnapped by armed attackers in the high-crime state of Tamaulipas, officials said early Monday.
A former striker for the Mexican national team, now playing for Greece's "Olympiacos" club, A.Pulido said he "feels very good, thank God," appearing alongside state governor Egidio Torre Cantu during a brief press conference.
The 25-year-old footballer appeared in front of cameras wearing colorful shorts and flip-flops.
A.Pulido was rescued by state and federal forces on Sunday "shortly after midnight... alive and well," said a statement from the Tamaulipas government, which did not provide further details of the operation.
The athlete's condition was checked by doctors, officials added. E.Torre Cantu told journalists that authorities are continuing the investigation and more details will be announced later.
"The most important thing is that he is here, he is with us," the governor emphasized. Family members told officials that armed men kidnapped A.Pulido in the state capital of Ciudad Victoria as he returned home from a night out.
The government statement said the footballer was abducted Saturday night, refuting earlier reports that the incident occurred Sunday morning.
lrytas.lt
