ARGENTINE World Cup winner Leopoldo Luque has been rushed to intensive care after complications in his fight against coronavirus.
The 71-year-old, whose four goals in the 1978 tournament including a spectacular long-distance volley against France helped his nation to become champions, is said to be in a coma.
Argentina World Cup winner Leopoldo Luque has been rushed to hospital
The 71-year-old scored four goals in the 1978 tournament
The retired footballer tested positive for Covid-19 on December 30 after feeling ill over Christmas and was told to self-isolate at his home in the Argentine city of Mendoza for 10 days.
He was admitted to hospital after a drop in his oxygen levels.
Local reports say he is in a coma at Clinica del Cuyo in Mendoza, where he has lived for the past 28 years.
He is considered to be a high-risk patient because of his age and the fact he suffered a heart attack in 2007 and has a lung disease.
Luque, considered to be one of Argentina’s greatest centre forwards, said after being diagnosed with coronavirus: “I’m fine and am taking medication because of the lung obstruction I’ve got, but I haven’t got any symptoms.
“I have to spend 10 days self-isolating and what bothers me the most is that I can’t use the swimming pool I’ve got in my back garden.”
The former footballer played for five Argentinian clubs including River Plate between 1972 and 1984.
He scored 22 goals in his 45 matches for his country.
After retiring he went into management.
His spectacular long-distance volley against France was his most memorable goal of the 1978 World Cup.
During the tournament his younger brother Oscar died in a terrible car accident as he travelled to see him play.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
