Kidnapped Mexican internation footballer Pulido rescued 'unharmed', authorities say

The Olympiacos and Mexico striker Alan Pulido has been rescued and is home "safe and sound", around 24 hours after he was kidnapped by gunmen in the north of the country, Mexican officials have said.

Mr Pulido, 25, was seized near Ciudad Victoria, in Tamaulipas state, after leaving a party.

Authorities said he was found safe and sound. Pictures on Mexican media showed him with a bandaged hand.

Local media reports said Mr Pulido had been leaving a party with his girlfriend in the early hours of Sunday morning when their car was surrounded by several trucks.

Six masked men reportedly took the striker away "by force" while his girlfriend was left unharmed in the car park where the incident took place

Tamaulipas is one of Mexico's most violent states, and Mexico recently deployed more security forces to tackle cartels operating in the area.

The country has one of the world's highest kidnapping rates, with government figures saying some 1,000 people are abducted every year.

Others argue that the true figure could be almost 10 times as high.

12:51 AM