Marvin Lee
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 22 November 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Morvant, Trinidad and Tobago[1] | ||
| Date of death | 9 March 2003 (aged 21) | ||
| Place of death | Arima, Trinidad and Tobago | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –2001 | Defence Force | ||
| International career | |||
| –2001 | Trinidad and Tobago U20 | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Marvin Lee (22 November 1981 – 9 March 2003) was a Trinidadian footballer who played as a defender.
Injury and death
On 20 March 2001, Lee was captaining the Trinidad and Tobago under-20 national team in a 2001 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament match against the United States, when he collided awkwardly with Landon Donovan in the fourth minute.[2] Donovan suffered cracked ribs, but was able to return to the match.[1] However, Lee sustained neck and spinal injuries, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.[3][1] All of his medical expenses were covered by CONCACAF president and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.[3][4]
Two years after the injury, Lee caught a cold, which ended up being fatal. He died in Arima on 9 March 2003, at the age of 21.[3][4]
Legacy
A few months after his injury, Lee was awarded the FIFA Presidential Award by Sepp Blatter.[3][5]
The Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad, is named after him.[2][1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Gone, but never forgotten". Trinidad Express Newspapers. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 Yoesting, Travis (21 September 2017). "Remembering Marvin Lee, The Young Player Who Died After Colliding With Landon Donovan". The18. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Bailey, Joel (10 March 2003). "Marvin Lee passes away". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- 1 2 Barrero, Jim (11 March 2003). "Ex-Trinidad Player Lee Dies at 21". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "Presidential Award" (PDF). Infoplus (FIFA). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2012.