In May 2023, Sergio Rico, at the time still the backup goalkeeper for PSG, suffered life-threatening injuries in a riding accident in his native Spain. After his contract in the French capital expired this summer, he now stood between the posts for his new club from Qatar for the first time.
Last summer, it was still uncertain whether Sergio Rico would ever be able to play football again. The Spanish keeper suffered life-threatening injuries in a riding accident at the end of May 2023 – and was only able to leave the hospital after about three months. 492 days after the moment that almost ended his life, the 31-year-old has now made his comeback.
Just last week, Rico signed a contract with Al-Gharafa in Qatar, and now he has made his debut in his new club’s 4-2 win over Al-Ain in the AFC Champions League. Fellow countryman Joselu scored twice for Al-Gharafa – helping his team to their first three points in their second game.
Last competitive game of 2022 for Mallorca
The last time Rico was between the posts in a competitive game was around two and a half years ago – back then, he was wearing the colors of RCD Mallorca, to whom his former club PSG had loaned him for the second half of the 2021/22 season. The career of the one-time international and 2016 European Championship participant once began in the youth academy of his home club Sevilla, with whom he won the Europa League three times. In addition to appearances in La Liga and Ligue 1, Rico also has experience in the Premier League, where he played for Fulham for one season.
Now the keeper was happy about his comeback in Qatar: “Playing again and winning again. Thank you for your support,” Rico wrote on Instagram. The victory is likely to be only a first step on the road back – the Andalusian had already expressed his big dream shortly after his release from hospital last year: “I’ve said it many times: I’m a Sevilla fan and I hope that one day I can return to Sevilla.”
