Public DomainColombian soccer star Andrs Escobar in 1990.On June 22, 1994, Colombian soccer player Andrs Escobar accidentally scored an own goal during a World Cup match against the United States. Just 10 days later, he was shot dead.Escobar was known as the Gentleman of Football for his sportsmanship and integrity on the soccer field. During an era when Colombia was notorious for drug trafficking and cartel murders, Escobar worked hard to promote a positive image of his beloved country. But his murder which was seemingly carried out in retaliation for his accidental goal made international headlines that seemingly confirmed the nations violent and corrupt reputation.What Happened During The 1994 World Cup?Andrs Escobar was born in Medelln, Colombia, in 1967. He began playing soccer in his youth, and he joined the Atltico Nacional youth team in 1985. He became known not just for his skill but for his positive attitude during matches. He earned the nickname El Caballero de Ftbol, or the Gentleman of Football.Escobar debuted for the Colombia national team in 1988, and he was later called up for the 1994 World Cup. Colombia lost its first game against Romania, but they still had a chance to stay in the game if they defeated the United States on June 22.Colombia had a strong showing early in the game, but in the 35th minute, Escobar was trying to block a kick when he accidentally deflected the ball into his teams own goal. The U.S. won the game two to one, and Colombia was eliminated from the World Cup several days later when the American team emerged victorious from their subsequent match against Romania.FIFA/YouTubeAndrs Escobars own goal during the 1994 World Cup.Many Colombians blamed Escobar for the loss. Escobar, however, tried his best to keep calm and encourage fans to look beyond the game. As reported by The Guardian in 2018, Escobar wrote for the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo after his teams elimination, Life doesnt end here. We have to go on. Life cannot end here. No matter how difficult, we must stand back up Its been a most amazing and rare experience. Well see each other again soon because life does not end here.Just days later, Andrs Escobar was dead.The Murder Of Andrs EscobarEscobars family members urged him not to return to Colombia immediately after the World Cup. His brother, Santiago, was living in Las Vegas at the time and asked Escobar to remain in the U.S. with him while emotions were still high back home. But Escobar wanted to face his critics head-on.In the early morning hours of July 2, 1994, Escobar went to El Indio nightclub in Medelln with some friends. Around 3 a.m., he was sitting in his car in the parking lot when three men approached him. An argument broke out, and Escobar was shot six times. His killer allegedly shouted, Goal! every time he fired his gun.Andrs Escobar was rushed to the hospital, where he died 45 minutes later. He was 27 years old.That same day, a man named Humberto Castro Muoz was arrested for Escobars murder. Castro was a bodyguard for drug lord Santiago Galln, who had purportedly bet a large sum of money on the World Cup match that Colombia lost. This revelation sparked allegations that Escobar was killed in retaliation for his own goal.National Police of ColombiaHumberto Castro Muoz, the man who was convicted of killing Andrs Escobar.Castro was sentenced to 43 years in prison for the crime, but rumors circulated that Galln and his brothers had actually killed Escobar and then bribed prosecutors to target Castro, instead. Other people believed that Escobar was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The truth about Escobars murder may never come to light, but the memory of the Gentleman continues to inspire soccer players and fans around the world.Following Escobars death, his family established the Andrs Escobar Project, which gives children living in poverty the chance to play soccer. The city of Medelln unveiled a statue in his honor in 2002. A community sports complex was named after Escobar, and Netflix released a miniseries called Goles en contra based on his life.In 2026, Santiago Escobar told The New York Times, His death hit me really hard. I loved him. I wanted him here for longer. He left us too soon. After 32 years, I still cry for my brother and I dont understand the death of a person who only did what he loved most, which was play football, entertain people, give joy to his fans, and give everything for his country, for his city.Today, soccer fans in Colombia and around the world celebrate Andrs Escobars legacy not as the man who scored an own goal, but as the man who held his head up high before and after.After reading about the life and death of Andrs Escobar, learn about the time opposing sides stopped fighting to play soccer together during World War I. Then, go inside the chilling murder of Mexican singer Chalino Snchez.The post Who Was Andrs Escobar, The Colombian Player Who Was Killed After Scoring An Own Goal In The World Cup? appeared first on All That's Interesting.