Kidnapped Mexican Soccer Star Alan Pulido Found, Rescued Safely – ABC News

Kidnapped Mexican soccer star Alan Pulido was found and rescued safely by police, according to authorities in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

Pulido, 25, was kidnapped over the weekend by armed men after he left a party in his hometown of Ciudad Victoria in northern Mexico, officials said.

The rescue happened shortly before midnight involving federal and state forces, the Tamaulipas Coordination Group said in a statement released early this morning.

Pulido also received a medical evaluation, the statement said.

Alfredo Pena/AP

Gov. Egidio Torre Cantú visited the player to make sure he was OK and congratulated police for the successful operation, the statement added.

Pulido is a forward for Olympiakos of Greece. He was a member of Mexico’s World Cup team in 2014.

Eduardo Verdugo/AP

The Greek team tweeted this morning that Pulido was with his family “safe” and “healthy.”

Detail, including a potential motive, are still unclear.

Ruben Dario of the Tamaulipas state attorney general’s office did not elaborate on the investigation, telling ABC News the family has requested privacy.