The tragic death of Hugo Sánchez's son: What happened to young Hugo Sánchez Portugal?

Hugo Sánchez Portugal's life, much like a fleeting moment on the football field, came to an abrupt end. Born to the iconic Mexican Real Madrid striker who bestowed upon him both his first and last name, young Hugo's journey as a footballer concluded prematurely at the tender age of 22. Tragically, a mere eight years later, his life was cut short, leaving behind a legacy overshadowed by unfulfilled potential and untimely departure from this world.

Things were never easy for young Sánchez. The towering shadow of his father perpetually loomed over Hugo's soccer career, casting a daunting presence despite his ascent to the upper echelons of Mexican football. Despite his achievements in reaching the elite ranks of the sport, Hugo found himself grappling with the weight of unmet expectations.

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On November 8, 2014, the Mexican police found the lifeless body of Hugo Sánchez Portugal along with that of his partner - also deceased - in the home they shared in the well-known Polanco neighborhood of Mexico City.

Image: Official Instagram of Hugo Sánchez (@hugosanchez_9)

The autopsy findings left no room for doubt: Hugo's demise was attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning emanating from a water heater installed in the bathroom of his apartment. The report underscored a critical detail: ventilation obstruction.

However, four years after his untimely death, his mother revealed on the 'Sale el Sol' TV show, that her son was found with a blow to the head, making the family think there was more to his sudden death.

Image: programme 'Sale el Sol', from Imagen Televisión.

In addition, she made a disturbing revelation: "A few months before, he had told me to save his photos, his last photos, and then one day he sent me a letter telling me: 'mom, they are going after my neck.'"

For his part, Hugo Sánchez (father) spoke about the issue in an interview on YouTube with former soccer player and journalist Roberto Gómez Junco, his colleague at ESPN, in which he said: "These are things that happen, sadly it happened, and you never expect it. You hope to leave before your children, it's the law of life, but that's how it came about, and you have to learn to live with that pain."

"I have learned, but I have not forgotten what I experienced with my son and what I went through with other relatives like my father. I lost my old man and my son." Hugo Sánchez recalled, remembering that tragic moment.

The bond between father and son was once strong, forged through a shared passion for the beautiful game. Yet, as Hugo Sánchez Portugal endeavored to carve his path in the competitive realm of professional football, their relationship weathered a profound crisis. In his own words, he lamented the absence of support from his father.

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Sánchez Portugal revealed these intimate details during his appearance on the Spanish program DEC. There, he candidly shared the hurdles his father had erected, hindering rather than facilitating his journey in a realm where the elder Sánchez had etched his name in history.

Image: Official Instagram of Hugo Sánchez (@hugosanchez_9)

Ultimately, amidst the trials and tribulations, the rift between them would fade into the recesses of memory. Each passing year, Hugo Sánchez Sr. ensures that his son remains ever-present in his heart and mind.

Image: Official Instagram of Hugo Sánchez (@hugosanchez_9)

Hugo Sánchez Portugal was born in Madrid on June 15, 1984, and, despite everything he said, he played professionally in the First Division of Mexico in two of its most iconic clubs, the Pumas de la UNAM and Atlante.

Image: Official Instagram of Hugo Sánchez (@hugosanchez_9)

With Pumas he only played 5 games between 2004 and 2006, 3 of them as a starter and, yes, he was proclaimed two-time Mexican champion there in his debut year with his father. In Atlante, he barely lasted half a season (2006) until he retired after not playing a single minute.

His last steps in the world of football were taken in a training camp with Club León, in 2006, before his signing for the Argentine Huracán fell through, and he rejected Chivas USA in 2007.

After that, he tried modeling with no luck. He participated as a sports anchor on Televisa, but ultimately chose politics as his career path. He became the director of Culture and Sports in Miguel Hidalgo, in Mexico City.

However, as he set his life on a new path without leaving sport aside, that tragic event ended his life when he was barely 30 years old, leaving behind many dreams to fulfill and a deep void in the life of his father.

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