Mexico forward Alan Pulido playing against USA during a friendly match in 2014 (Credit: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY)
Mexico forward, Alan Pulido playing against USA during a friendly match in 2014 (Credit: Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY)

25 year old Mexican football star, Alan Pulido, has been recovered from the hands of his captors. Pulido was abducted at gunpoint on Saturday in his home town of Ciudad Victoria in Tamaulipas state, Mexico.

The Olympiacos FC striker and Mexico squadsman for the 2014 World Cup who was with his girlfriend at a party on Saturday night, suddenly had his car surrounded by vehicles of unknown men when he was leaving the place. He was taken away by masked men, who left his girlfriend unharmed.

Pulido was rescued just before midnight on Sunday after an operation which involved the military and police in combined effort. No ransom was paid.

The young player is “currently being medically evaluated and more details on the rescue operation will be sent out later,” the Tamaulipas government says.

Tamaulipas state is notorious for drug cartels and rampant kidnappings. About 5,000 people were officially declared missing last year in the border state.