42 Athletes That Died Before 40

NBA | February 16, 2021

Andreas Escobar

Andreas Escobar’s death stands as the most sinister sports tragedy on our list. The Columbian footballer scored an own goal against his own country while competing against Team USA at the 1994 World Cup. The blunder cost his team a potential victory and ended FIFA hopes for Columbia.

Escobar was advised to keep low profile after the incident, but did not. Just five days after the fixture, Escobar was at a nightclub when three insane, sick soccer fans surrounded him, firing six bullets into his body while taunting him for the own goal. He was 27 years old.