Shock in Panama: Luis Tejada, historic scorer who played in Russia 2018, died

Luis “Matador” Tejada, the top scorer for the Panama soccer team with 43 goals, died on Sunday after suffering cardiac arrest while playing a match in a veterans league.according to local media. The player, who said goodbye to his country’s team after playing in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, died at the age of 41.

The Panamanian Football Federation (FEPAFUT) confirmed the death of Roof whom he considered a historic scorer for the Canalero national team and a fundamental piece in the classification of Panama to his first World Cup in 2018. “It is with regret that we say goodbye to Luis Carlos ‘Matador’ Tejada, the legendary scorer of the Panama national team. “His legacy in Panamanian soccer will last forever,” said the president of the Central American country, Laurentino Cortizo, on his X account.

Tejada, who played with number 18, was part of a generation of legionary footballers who made history by taking Panama to its first World Cup.. “The number 18 in the national team has always been and will be synonymous with our eternal scorer Luis ‘Matador’ Tejada. He flies high, a legend, you will always be in our hearts,” FEPAFUT published on the social network X.

Since his debut in 2001 with the Tauro club in his country, Tejada played for more than 10 clubs in Colombia, Mexico, Peru, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, he is remembered for his “legendary” Chilean against the Mexican team in a Concacaf qualifying match for the 2006 World Cup.

The Panamanians Plaza Amador, Herrera, San Francisco and Potros del Este; the Colombians Deportes Tolima, Envigado, Once Caldas, América de Cali and Millonarios; Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates; Real Salt Lake of the United States; the Peruvians Juan Aurich, César Vallejo University and Sports University; In addition to Toluca and Veracruz in Mexico, they are the clubs where Tejada played.