Like any good striker, Alan Pulido took his chance when it presented himself.
The Mexican soccer player ended his kidnapping ordeal after one day by overpowering one of his captors, calling the police and running to them, The Associated Press reported Tuesday, citing an official summary of events. The AP’s report contradicts previous accounts, which initially said authorities rescued Pulido.
Four armed men seized Pulido, 25, and his girlfriend late Saturday night in Tamaulipas State (in Northeast Mexico) — a region over which drug cartels battle for control and crime is rampant — while the couple was leaving a party. Captors soon released Iliana Salas but held the soccer player for ransom. Mexico’s army and federal police and Tamaulipas state police rushed into action when news of Pulido’s kidnapping broke but couldn’t locate him during the day-long search.
Tamaulipas state attorney general Ismael Quintanilla said Pulido acted decisively when he was left alone with only one of the captors. Pulido wrestled away the kidnapper’s phone and pistol, beat the 38-year-old gang member unconscious and made three emergency calls to the police.
“There was an exchange of punches between them,” Quintanilla said.
Hand and wrist injuries aside, Pulido is in good condition.
“Very well, thank God,” he told reporters Monday when asked how he’s doing.
Pulido joins 41 reported kidnappings in Tamaulipas in the first four months of 2016.
Pulido was a member of Mexico’s 2014 FIFA World Cup team. Although he watched all four games (“El Tri” played at the tournament from the bench and has not appeared for his country since) his national-team future remains bright. All he has to do is play regular games for his club, Greek soccer power Olympiacos, score goals and force himself into Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio’s reckoning.
After forcing his way out of captivity, doing so should seem easier for Pulido.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
