Faryd Mondragon hospitalised after reported suicide attempt

Faryd Mondragon, one of the most iconic 'keepers to ever pull on the gloves for Colombia's national team, was reportedly the subject of a suicide attempt on Tuesday.

The Valle del Lili clinic, located in Mondragon's hometown of Cali, Colombia, confirmed that the 44-year-old was admitted after suffering from a "metabolic imbalance," and later said that he "is in good condition and under medical observation."

As the Guardian points out, reports in the Colombian media say Mondragon was hospitalised because he had attempted to kill himself by taking a large dose of antidepressants. He had also posted a series of concerning messages on Instagram in recent days that have since been deleted, including one that read: "There is only me who can judge my life and I'm tired of being judged by others without the possibility of defending myself." He also published another message that read: "He who misses you looks for you, but doesn't lose you."

At last year's World Cup in Brazil, Mondragon became the oldest 'keeper to appear to ever play at football's most prestigious competition when he replaced David Ospina in the 86th minute of Colombia's group-stage fixture against Japan.

Mondragon's club career started and ended at Deportivo Cali, and featured spells at Real Zaragoza, FC Metz, and, most notably, Galatasaray. At the international level, he made 51 appearances for Colombia and was its first-choice 'keeper at the 1998 World Cup, where, as Tim Vickery of BBC Sport explained, "he was single-handedly responsible for the fact England did not run up a cricket score."