At the age of 93, the Mexican Antonio Carbajal, the first football player who participated in five World Cups, died.

Antonio CarbajalPhoto: El Universal / Zuma Press / Profimedia

Antonio Carbajal, the first football player to participate in five World Cups, has died

Known as “La Tota”, the legendary goalkeeper played in Brazil 1950, Switzerland 1954, Sweden 1958, Chile 1962 and England 1966.

Carbajal held the record for 32 years, until in 1998 he was equaled by the German Lothar Matthaus.

He played 48 matches for his country, including 11 at the World Cup, as well as 409 matches at club level.

He spent most of his 18-year career in the Mexican team Club Leon, where he played 364 matches in 16 years, writes News.ro.

The club announced it would open the gates of its stadium on Thursday to allow fans to pay tribute to Carbajal, also nicknamed “El Cinco Copas” after his success, in the company of his family.

The club told fans: “With honor, respect and love, let’s finally say goodbye to the legend of the Emeralds.”

His record was later equaled by German Lothar Matthaus, Italian Gianluigi Buffon, Argentine Lionel Messi, Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexicans Rafael Marquez, Guillermo Ochoa and Andres Guardado.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, said: “It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Antonio Carbajal, the first player to play in five FIFA World Cups. I send my deepest condolences to his family and to all Mexican fans who mourn his loss.”