Former Mexican footballer Omar Bravo is to stand trial for allegedly abusing a teenage girl

A judge in Mexico ruled on Friday that former footballer Omar Bravo will stand trial for allegedly abusing a teenage girl.

Bravo, 45, who played for Mexico at the 2006 World Cup and took part in the 2004 Olympics, was arrested on Sunday in Zapopan, a suburb next to Guadalajara, one of the country’s three largest cities.

Bravo allegedly abused his girlfriend’s 17-year-old daughter for the past six years. If convicted, the former striker could face a prison sentence of five to 10 years.

The judge ruled that Bravo must remain in prison for at least the next six months due to the nature of the alleged crime. In Mexico, pre-trial detention is applied if the suspect is considered a danger to society or the trial.

«For these types of crimes, the law provides for these types of measures because of their seriousness. Six months is a likely term, because if the trial takes longer, he will have to spend more time in pre-trial detention,» said the victim’s lawyer, Juan Soltero.

The defense led by Soltero presented 42 screenshots of conversations between Bravo and the girl as well as a video recording.

Bravo played 66 matches with the Mexican national team, scoring 15 goals. He retired as Chivas’ all-time top scorer in 2018. Chivas is one of the two most popular teams in Mexico.

Published on October 11, 2025