THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
1994
Colombia went to the World Cup with a golden generation that Pelé tipped to win it. Against the United States, Andrés Escobar scored an own goal and Colombia went out.
THE KILLING
On 2 July 1994, ten days after the own goal, Escobar was shot six times in a car park in Medellín. The gunman reportedly shouted 'Goal' with every shot. Escobar was 27. Humberto Muñoz Castro, a driver for the Gallón brothers, was convicted.
THE ALLEGATION
Many believe the Gallón brothers, who had allegedly lost heavily betting on Colombia, were behind it. They were never convicted of the murder. In February 2026 Santiago Gallón was shot dead in Mexico.
THE GENTLEMAN
Escobar was known for playing clean and wrote about ending his country's violence. His last words in print: 'Life doesn't end here.' About 120,000 people attended his farewell.
MORE FROM WORLD CUP STORIES
THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
The argument also lives in the YouTube comments ↗.