Alan Pulido soccer player kidnapped in Mexico

Alan Pulido, a Mexican international footballer was kidnapped in the north-eastern state of Tamaulipas over the weekend, triggering a massive manhunt in territory that has been a battleground of warring drug cartels.

The 25-year-old was celebrating at a party on Saturday night near his hometown of Ciudad Victoria when he was abducted according to family and state government officials.

Pulido had left the party around 11:30pm and was travelling back to Ciudad Victoria when his vehicle was intercepted and unknown individuals seized him, said Armando Pulido, Alan’s brother.

“At this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with Alan,” the Olympiakos, Pulido’s Greek club team tweeted. “We sincerely hope that this ordeal will soon end and that he will return home safely.”

“Terrible what happened to Alan Pulido … in Mexico there are thousands like him and without anyone’s help. Regrettable situation. My prayers for Alan and his family,” tweeted former US international Herculez Gómez.

Pulido, who was on Mexico’s 2014 World Cup team, was recently left off the national team because of a dispute over whether his contract with the Mexican team Tigres is still valid. He left the team in 2014 to play in Europe.

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