A reminder that the World Cup is just as capable of doling out pain as it is joy is the 1994 own goal by Colombia’s Andres Escobar. The mistake led to his country’s elimination from the tournament and, ultimately, his murder, and stands out as a tragic departure from an otherwise exciting tournament in the US.
On July 2, only six days after returning to his home nation, Escobar was gunned down in the streets of Medellín, in what is likely Colombian football’s darkest hour. The killing was linked to drug lords who had suffered big gambling losses because of Colombia’s exit at the group stage but nothing was ever proven.
Cartel bodyguard Humberto Castro Muñoz confessed to the murder, but it is widely speculated that he did not act alone and was employed by a cartel that lost significant money betting on Colombia.
As recently as the last edition of the World Cup, in Brazil, tributes still poured in from family, fans and former teammates.