Panama Soccer Star Dies at 41

Luis Tejada, former striker for Panama, died at the young age of 41 years old of a heart attack according to the Panamanian Football Federations (FEPAFUT).

Tejada was competing in a veterans game outside of Panama City when he suddenly collapsed and was taken to a clinic for medical attention.

Retired Panama 🇵🇦 soccer ⚽️ player Luis Tejada dead today at 41 years old. His cause of death is being classified as a heart attack. It happened while he was playing in an amateur league soccer match. He was Panama’s national team highest goalscoarer ever. https://t.co/v3mH3nRYfE

— Héctor Velásquez (@El_Hector_) January 28, 2024

Luis’s name lives in infamy in Panama, as he is Panama’s all-time leading goal scorer with 43 international goals. He was also a major player in Panama’s international team to make it to its first ever World Cup in 2018.

We lost a great local footballer today. He died from heart attack, but his legacy from being a top goalscorer and sending my country to their first World Cup will always be remembered

Q.E.P.D. “Matador” 😢 pic.twitter.com/pWiZuzB3ZL

— Pana Lemon (@PanaLemonPTY) January 29, 2024

CNN Sports has more on Tejada’s performance for Panama.

Tejada scored two goals in the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, with Panama going on to finish third in the fifth round and qualifying for the tournament automatically.

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Panama finished a point and two places ahead of the US men’s team, which failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 32 years.

Panama troubled Tunisia in the team’s opening group match in Russia, but the north African side came from a goal behind to win 2-1.

Panama then lost 6-1 to England and 3-0 to Belgium to get knocked out in the group stage.