Christian Benitez, a Mexican league soccer star now playing in Qatar, dies a day after a game

DOHA, Qatar – A soccer star from Ecuador who led the Mexican league in scoring last season has died a day after playing in a game for his club in Qatar.

Christian Benitez was 27 and joined El Jaish this year after leaving the Mexican team America. El Jaish says he died Monday but provided no details.

El Jaish played Qatar Sports on Sunday in the Sheik Jassim Cup, a warmup tournament for the upcoming season. The team says he did not complain about his health and is awaiting a medical report.

The game was played in hot and humid conditions typical of the Persian Gulf this time of year. Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup and the searing heat has prompted many in soccer to call for the tournament to be moved to winter.