Colombian keeper retires after WC record
Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon has retired, just days after becoming the oldest player to take part in a World Cup match.
"My last stage as a player. Today I am retiring from active football with the best memories, with the honour and the pride of belonging to this group of warriors," Mondragon said in a video he posted on the internet, with Fortaleza's Estadio Castelao as a backdrop.
Colombia lost 2-1 to Brazil in the World Cup round of 16 in Fortaleza, with Mondragon on the subs' bench.
At 43 years and three days old, Mondragon became on June 24 "the oldest player to ever appear in a World Cup, surpassing Cameroon's Roger Milla, who played at 42 years and 39 days," FIFA said at the time. He played five minutes at the end of the game.
"To all fans, all spectators, all of Colombia, thank you very much for having put up with me over this 24-year career. I love you," Mondragon said.
Mondragon had been a starter in Colombia's previous World Cup appearance in France 1998 and he played six World Cup qualifying tournaments.
In his long career, Mondragon played for Colombia's Deportivo Cali, Paraguay's Cerro Porteno, Argentina's Argentinos Juniors and Independiente, Spain's Zaragoza, France's Metz, Turkey's Galatasaray, Germany's Cologne and for Philadelphia Union in US Major League Soccer.
