Mexico footballer Alan Pulido’s kidnap prompts manhunt

Security forces in Mexico have launched a major search operation for international footballer Alan Pulido after he was abducted near his home.

Local media reports said Pulido was 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 forced the footballer away while his girlfriend was left unharmed in the car park where the incident took place.

The striker plays for the Greek team Olympiakos and has made several appearances for Mexico's national team.

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

"At this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with Alan," Olympiakos said on its Twitter page in Greek.

Similar comments were published on social media websites by Pulido's teammates from the national squad.