Freddy Rincon: Colombia 'Colossus' dies aged 55 of injuries following car crash

Former Real Madrid footballer was one of five injured after the vehicle he was driving collided with a bus on Monday, suffering a severe head injury

In this file photo taken on January 14, 2000, Corinthians' Colombian player Freddy Rincon kisses the winner's trophy after defeating Vasco da Gama 4-3 in the final of the Fifa World Club Championship at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AFP

In this file photo taken on June 29, 2000 shows Colombia's Freddy Rincon being challenged by Argentina's Diego Simeone during their South American qualification 2002 FIFA World Cup football match in Bogota. AFP

A screen projects an image of former Colombian star midfielder Freddy Rincon reading "Rincon We Are With You" during the Copa Libertadores group stage first leg football match between Brazil's Corinthians and Colombia's Deportivo Cali at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on April 13, 2022. AFP

Freddy Rincon died on April 13, 2022 aged 55 of injuries he sustained in a traffic accident two days earlier, doctors said. AP

The car in which former Colombian footballer Freddy Rincon was in an accident in Cali, Colombia. The former Colombian international midfielder died on April 13, 2022 aged 55 of his injuries. AFP

Freddy Steven Rincon, son of former Colombian footballer Freddy Rincon, talks to journalists in front of a medical center in Cali, Colombia, on April 12, 2022. AFP

A fan of former Colombian footballer Freddy Rincon stands with a banner reading "Freddy, you will get through this" in front of a medical center in Cali, Colombia, on April 12, 2022. AFP

In this file photo taken on June 15, 1998 Romanian player Iulian Filipescu (top) is challenged by Colombia's Freddy Rincon during their France 1998 FIFA World Cup Group G football match. AFP

Former Colombia captain Freddy Rincon has died from injuries he suffered in a car crash in the city of Cali earlier this week, doctors said late on Wednesday. He was 55.

Rincon was one of five people injured after the vehicle he was driving collided with a bus on Monday, suffering a severe head injury.

"Despite all the efforts of our teams, Freddy Eusebio Rincon Valencia has passed away," Dr Laureano Quintero, the medical director of the Imbanaco Grupo Quironsalud clinic in Cali where Rincon was being treated, told reporters.

The former Real Madrid and Napoli ace underwent almost three hours of surgery before being transferred to intensive care, but died on Wednesday.

Rincon was born in the southwestern port city of Buenaventura and was known as the "Colossus" during his career.

He played much of his club career in Brazil, turning out for Palmeiras and Corinthians, where he won the Fifa Club World Cup in 2000.

He was a star of the Colombia side that played at the World Cup in Italy in 1990 and reached the last-16, and also appeared at the 1994 and 1998 finals. He is one of the team's most memorable players during that decade, alongside Carlos Valderrama and Faustino Asprilla.

Rincon retired from the national team in after 84 national team appearances and 17 goals.