Panama’s record goalscorer
Luis Tejada died unexpectedly at the age of 41
January 29, 2024, 5:09 p.m
Luis Tejada will not end his career until January 2023, and now he suffers a heart attack after a soccer game in his free time. The Panamanian association, for whom the striker scored more often than any other, is in mourning.
The Panamanian national team’s record goalscorer is dead. Luis Tejada has died at the age of 41, the Central American country’s football association announced. According to media reports, he died of a heart attack after a recreational soccer game. According to the “Bild” newspaper, he was said to have felt uncomfortable on the field and asked to be substituted before fainting. Although he received medical care and was taken to a clinic, he could not be saved.
Panama’s association president Laurentino Cortizo said: “It is with regret that we say goodbye to Luis Carlos ‘Matador’ Tejada, the legendary goalscorer of the Panamanian national team. His legacy in Panamanian football will last forever.”
The association also expressed “sincere condolences” to Tejada’s family “and the entire Panamanian football and sports family in general.” The striker is a “historic goalscorer for the Panamanian national team, a decisive factor in qualifying for our first FIFA World Cup in 2018 and a synonym for the development and advancement of football in our country.”
The striker known as “El Matador” only ended his career in January 2023. From 2001 to 2018, he played 108 games for the Panama national team. His 43 goals are a record for the association. He took part in the North American continental tournament, the Gold Cup, five times, in 2005 the team reached the final and Tejada received the award as best player and top scorer. The highlight of his sporting career was the successful World Cup qualification for the tournament in Russia in 2018. He was on the field himself in the games against Belgium (0:3) and Tunisia (1:2).
At club level, Tejada was a globetrotter. Football quickly took him beyond the borders of Panama to Mexico, Colombia, Peru, the United Arab Emirates and the USA. He played most of the games for the Peruvian club Juan Aurich, with whom he also won the national championship in 2011.