A Mexican international footballer was kidnapped in the north-eastern state of Tamaulipas over the weekend, triggering a massive manhunt in territory that has been a battleground of warring drug cartels.

Alan Pulido, 25, was abducted after leaving a party late on Saturday night. The kidnapping happened near Pulido’s hometown of Ciudad Victoria, 200 miles south of the Texas border, according to family and state government officials.

Pulido’s brother Armando told the sports publication Medio Tiempo that his brother had attended the party with his girlfriend and left at around 11.30pm. Pulido was traveling back to Ciudad Victoria when his vehicle was intercepted and he was seized by unknown individuals, his brother said.

A state security source told the Guardian Pulido had been seen in Ciudad Victoria driving a BMW. The source said it was not known if he was pulled from that vehicle by his captors.

Tamaulipas state prosecutor Ismael Quintanilla Acosta confirmed the disappearance, saying Pulido was “intercepted by armed persons” and that his whereabouts have been unknown ever since.

The kidnapping made national headlines in Mexico and brought outpourings of support.

“We sincerely hope that this ordeal ends before long and that Alan returns home safe and sound,” Pulido’s Greek club team, Olympiakos, tweeted on Sunday.

“Terrible what happened to Alan Pulido … in Mexico there are thousands like him and without anyone’s help. Regrettable situation. My prayers for Alan and his family,” tweeted former US international Herculez Gómez.

Pulido played for Mexico and was included the 2014 World Cup squad. He was left out of the squad for the Copa America, which starts next week, due to a legal dispute with his former Mexican club, Tigres, according to national coach Carlos Osorio.

Pulido’s kidnapping put attention on the public security problems in Mexico and especially Tamaulipas state, which occupies the country’s north-eastern corner and has been beset by violence and crimes such as kidnap and extortion.

Security analysts say the Gulf Cartel and its former armed wing Los Zetas have disputed the state since splitting in 2010.

Ciudad Victoria, the state capital, has been especially hard hit, with shootouts occurring in broad daylight and residents preferring to stay off the streets after dark.

A Mexico City think tank, the Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice, has ranked Ciudad Victoria the second-most dangerous city in the country for kidnappings.

Online news organization Animal Politico, citing federal government statistics, reported Tamaulipas having the highest rate of kidnapping in the country – with cases increasing 360% between 2010 and 2015.

The security source said the cartels have splintered and two factions of Los Zetas are squabbling over Ciudad Victoria.

“They need money to pay their expenses” and continue fighting, the security source said. “(Kidnapping) is the easy way to get it.”

Mexico has one of the wealthiest football leagues in the hemisphere and its high salaries tend to keep players at home, though Pulido is among a growing number of Mexicans to try their luck in Europe.

Analysts say player kidnappings are rare, even with franchises operating in cities suffering through spells of insecurity brought about by a crackdown on drug cartels and organized crime. The crackdown has claimed more than 100,000 lives and left more than 20,000 missing persons over the past 10 years.

“Organized crime usually respects sports figures and singing stars and leaves them alone,” said Héctor López Zatarain, an expert in sports marketing. “Here in Mexico, you almost never see a player with bodyguards.”