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Editor’s note: This post contains references to suicide
When Costa Rica take on Spain later today, the Central American side’s most prominent face will be that of their Keylor Navas.
However, there is another Costa Rican goalkeeper whose memories continue to sustain football in the nation two decades later.
Twenty years ago this month, in November 2002, Lester Morgan took his own life at the age of 26.
His career lasted eight years and included stints at local club Guanacasteca, Costa Rican giants Herediano, and Mexican side Venados de Yucatan.
Four months before his death, he travelled to the World Cup with Costa Rica, for whom he won six caps.
And the impact he had on the game continues to reverberate, particularly for Navas.
“I have the memory of seeing him once up close,” Navas tells The Athletic. “I went to the Estadio Perez Zeledon, in my town, there was a Primera Division game. I arrived very early, to be picked as a ballboy, so I could be behind the goal he was going to play in. I remember perfectly watching him as he did his warm-up and everything. I had so much admiration for him.”
Jacob Whitehead tells the tragic story of Costa Rica’s lost hero.
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