FIFA recalled today the former Chilean striker Leonel Sánchez, who died this morning at the age of 85 after a long fight against respiratory diseases.
The governing body of football took advantage of social networks to pay tribute to the World Cup with the ‘Red’ in 1962 and 1966, being a key player in the third-place achieved in the only World Cup organized by the country.
The body chaired by the Swiss Gianni Infantino recalled in a video the goals of the former striker from the left in the 1962 World Cup in Chile. “Leonel was an idol and legend of Chilean soccer. Rest in peace, Leonel Sánchez,” FIFA wrote.
Chilean National Team and the 1962 World Cup
But Leonel was not only an icon for the University of Chile, he was also an icon for the Chilean National Team. The left-winger debuted with the red shirt on September 18, 1955, in a friendly played at the Maracaná Stadium against Didí and Garrincha’s Brazil.
With the National Team, he played 85 games, scoring 24 goals. To date, Sánchez is the seventh scorer in the history of the “Roja” and also one of those who have played the most games.
The culminating point defending the “everyone’s team” was, without a doubt, his participation in the 1962 World Cup held in our country, where he was not only one of the mainstays of the third place achieved in that tournament, but he was also one of the championship scorers by scoring 5 goals.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
