Luis “Matador” Tejada, Panama’s national soccer team’s top scorer with 43 goals, died on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Veterans League game, according to local media.
The player, who said goodbye to his country’s national team after competing at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, has died at the age of 41.
The Panama Football Federation (FEPAFUT) confirmed the death of Tejada, whom it considered a historic goalscorer for the Canalero national team and a key figure in Panama’s qualification for its first World Cup in 2018.
Farewell Luis Tejada, we will never forget this great goal #Devilstwitterers pic.twitter.com/MrwKC3dYvj
— Sebas Lopez 🍃 (@sebaslopezans) January 28, 2024
“It is with regret that we say goodbye to Luis Carlos “Matador” Tejada, the legendary goalscorer of the Panama national team. His legacy in Panamanian football will last forever,” said the Central American country’s president, Laurentino Cortizo, on his X account.
Tejada, wearing number 18, was part of a generation of foreign players who made history by leading Panama to its first World Cup.
“Number 18 in the national team has always been and will be synonymous with our eternal scorer Luis “Matador” Tejada. Fly high legend, you will always be in our hearts,” FEPAFUT wrote on social network X.
This help is more valuable today than ever because once (October 10, 2017) LUIS TEJADA helped Roman Torres score a goal in the qualifying of the First World Cup in PANAMA. El Matador, the top scorer of the Panama national team, left the earthly world today to score in the clouds✝️🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/v2XeCABkVZ
— Jerry Quijada (@JerryQuijadaTv) January 28, 2024
Since making his debut in 2001 with Tauro in his home country, Tejada has played for more than 10 clubs in Colombia, Mexico, Peru, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
He is also remembered for his “legendary” Chilean performance against Mexico in a Concacaf 2006 World Cup qualifying match.
Panamanians Plaza Amador, Herrera, San Francisco and Potros del Este; Colombians Deportes Tolima, Envigado, Onze Caldas, América de Cali and Millonarios; Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates; Royal Salt Lake USA; Peruvians Juan Aurich, Cesar Vallejo University and Sports University; Besides Toluca and Veracruz in Mexico, these are the clubs where Tejada played. (Reuters).
Source: Aristegui Noticias
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
