Paraguay international striker Cabañas shot

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Paraguay international striker Salvador Cabañas was shot in a Mexico City bar on Monday. He is critically injured with doctors unable to remove a bullet lodged in his head. Doctors who operated on him said he was in stable but critical condition.

The neurosurgeon Ernesto Martinez Duarte, who operated the player, said at a news conference that Cabañas is in a very delicate situation. It will take between 48 and 72 hours to see how his condition evolves. The doctor explained that Cabañas is in serious but stable condition and said it was too early to predict what the consequences will be for his health.

It is very unlikely that Cabañas will be participating at the upcoming World Cup. According to a neurosurgeon from Paraguay, Carlos Codas, it will take at least five to six months for the striker to recuperate. ‘He is virtually out of the World Cup. It’s a shame.’

Cabañas is one of Latin America's most prolific goal scorers. The 29-year-old plays for Mexican club side América. He was his country's top scorer in the South American World Cup qualifying campaign, scoring six times. In 2007 he was voted Best Player in America.

At the World Cup finals in South Africa, Paraguay will play Italy, Slovakia and New Zealand in Group F.