Mexico City, May 8 (DPA): A 21-year-old footballer who was active in the second category of Mexican football was shot dead in an apparent hold-up in southern Mexico City, his club said.

Ademir Meza played for Pumas Morelos, the second team of Mexican football giants Pumas de la UNAM. He was shot dead late Thursday inside his car, on a Mexico City avenue.

Police said the defender had resisted an attempt by two people travelling in another vehicle to rob him.

The city's Justice Ministry said Meza and a passenger had been followed by another vehicle, possibly a taxi, that tried to block their way in the Pedregal de Santo Domingo neighbourhood.

The authorities said one of the attackers had a firearm and shot the player. The paramedics deployed to deal with the emergency could not save Meza's life. The person who was travelling with him was unhurt.

This is the second case of a shooting involving a football player in Mexico City this year.

Top striker Salvador Cabanas, a pillar of the America team in Mexico and of the Paraguay national team, was shot in the head at a bar in January. Cabanas was seriously injured but survived and is currently recovering in Argentina, although the bullet remains lodged in his head and his return to professional football is uncertain.