Faryd Mondragon is currently in a hospital in Cali after a rumored suicide attempt. The former Colombia goalkeeper was admitted on Jan. 12, 2016.
In 2014, Mondragon became the oldest player to participate in the World Cup finals at 43 years and three days. The Valle del Lili clinic in his hometown of Cali confirmed that the former player suffered from a metabolic imbalance. The hospital subsequently added that Mondragon is already stable and in good condition. The 44-year-old is still under medical observation, and there is still no word on when he will be discharged, The Guardian reported.
His hospitalization followed the cryptic messages he posted on Instagram, which has already been removed, ESPN FC cited.
“No one sees your tears, no one notes your sadness or your pain, but everyone points out your errors,” he stated.
“There is only me who can judge my life and I’m tired of being judged by others without the possibility of defending myself,” Mondragon wrote.
Colombian media hinted that the former goalkeeper consumed a huge dose of antidepressants. It is still uncertain whether his objective was to kill himself. There are no comments from family and friends in the meantime, whether Mondragon was suffering from depression and which issues may have pushed him to commit drug overdose.
When Mondragon played in the 2014 World Cup, he broke Roger Milla’s record for being the oldest player to do so when he came in to substitute in the 85th minute of the final group match against Japan. At the time, Colombia won over Japan 4-1.
After the victory, he acknowledged the opportunity to play for Colombia at a World Cup for the last time. He also appeared in the 1994 and 1998 World Cup. He is the only Colombian to have joined in five FIFA World Cup qualifier campaigns, as well as the only player to join in six different World Cup qualifier campaigns since 1993.
Mondragon has played as a goalkeeper mostly in South America, although he also managed to travel all over North America and Europe during other phases of his career. He appeared over 200 times for Galatasaray, played for three years at Cologne and one season for the Philadelphia Union.
Bleacher Report wrote that he announced his football retirement after Colombia was eliminated by Brazil in the quarter-finals in 2014. He retired from football with 54 international caps and began working as a pundit in Colombia in 2015.
More updates and details on Mondragon are expected to surface soon.