Kidnapped Mexican Soccer Star Alan Pulido Found, Rescued Safely

Officials say Pulido was held captive by armed men after leaving a party.

ByABC News
May 30, 2016, 7:04 AM

— -- 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.

PHOTO: Mexican soccer player Alan Pulido, left, stands next to Tamaulipas State Gov. Egidio Torre Cantu after Pulido was rescued from kidnappers May 30, 2016 in Ciudad Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas State, Mexico.
Mexican soccer player Alan Pulido, left, stands next to Tamaulipas State Gov. Egidio Torre Cantu after Pulido was rescued from kidnappers May 30, 2016 in Ciudad Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas State, Mexico. Mexican authorities say Pulido, a forward with Olympiacos in the Greek league, has been rescued safe and sound after an hours-long kidnapping in the northeast border state of Tamaulipas.
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.

PHOTO: In a June 29, 2014 file photo, Mexico's Alan Pulido seen with Javier Hernandez after the Netherlands defeated Mexico 2-1 during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and Mexico at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil.
FILE - In a June 29, 2014 file photo, Mexico's Alan Pulido consoles teammate Javier Hernandez (14) after the Netherlands defeated Mexico 2-1 during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and Mexico at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil. A state official says that Mexican soccer star Alan Pulido has been kidnapped in the northern border state of Tamaulipas. The official says the 25-year-old player was kidnapped near his hometown of Ciudad Victoria on Sunday after leaving a party.
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.

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