Mexican soccer star improving after being shot in head

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Paraguay soccer player Salvador Cabanas has been able to take food by mouth and is talking with family members, a remarkable recovery after being shot in the head a week ago in a Mexico City bar.

Doctors at Angeles del Pedregal Hospital said Sunday they were surprised by Cabanas’ progress since being shot at close range just before dawn Monday. Dr. Ernesto Martinez said 80 percent of patients with such head wounds do not survive.

Cabanas, 29, is the top striker for Mexico City club America and had been expected to lead Paraguay in this summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

Dr. Alfonso Diaz declined to make forecasts about Cabanas’ recovery, but said his progress Sunday had built on his recovery on Saturday as doctors lowered his sedation level. He began to speak to family members Saturday in Spanish and Guarani, the two official languages of Paraguay.

“We are very optimistic,” Diaz said.

Doctors say Cabanas has no memory of what happened to him, and nobody treating him has been willing to speculate if he will be able to play again.

The prime suspect in the case, Jose J. Balderas Garza, was identified on surveillance cameras in the bar but has not been reported detained.