Spain's World Cup–winning captain Iker Casillas, 37, suffered a heart attack while training with his team Porto on Wednesday and was taken to hospital, the Portuguese club said in a statement, adding that the goalkeeper's life was not in danger.
“Iker Casillas suffered an acute heart attack during this Wednesday's training session,” Porto said in a statement on their official website.
The Portuguese club said Casillas fell ill during a practice session and remains hospitalized, but the “heart condition has been resolved.”
“The session was quickly halted so medical assistance could be provided to the Porto goalkeeper, who is currently in the CUF Porto Hospital. Casillas is OK, stable, and the heart problem has been resolved.”
The club's official Twitter account added: “Always together. Stay strong, Iker.”
Casillas posted a photo of himself on Twitter giving a thumbs up in the hospital bed.
“Everything under control here,” the text said. “A big scare, but holding strong. Thank you everyone for the messages and the support.”
Porto said the practice session at the team’s training center was interrupted so doctors could attend to Casillas.
No timeline was given for how long the goalkeeper will be sidelined. Defending champion Porto trails Benfica by two points in the Portuguese league with two games left.
Word of support
Messages of support poured in from clubs and players across the world.
“Real Madrid wishes to offer its full support to our beloved captain Iker Casillas,” the Spanish club said in a statement. “Iker Casillas has shown us how to overcome the most incredible challenges throughout his professional career, adding significantly to our club’s successes. He’s shown us that giving up has no place in our way of life and demonstrated time and again that staying strong during the hardest of challenges is the only path to victory.
“Real Madrid and all of madridismo look forward to seeing our legendary captain back in good health as soon as possible and we send him all the encouragement in the world.”
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi took to Instagram to wish Casillas a speedy recovery. “I want to take this opportunity to send a huge to Iker Casillas and wish him a speedy recovery,” Messi wrote in Spanish.
A tweet on the Spain team's official account said: “All the family at the national team and the Spanish football federation are with you Iker Casillas. Get well soon.”
Casillas played 167 times for Spain, famously captaining his country to their first and only World Cup win in 2010 as well as the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.
His exploits for the national team earned him the nickname 'Saint Iker' and made him one of the best known personalities in Spain. He is married to the television journalist Sara Carbonero, with whom he has two children.
Born in Mostoles, Madrid, Casillas came through Real Madrid's academy and spent the majority of his career there until joining Porto in July 2015.
He is Real's second all-time appearance maker, playing 725 matches between 1999 and 2015, winning five La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns with the club. His former team mate Raul made 741 appearances for Real.
