A TEENAGE footballer has died after being killed by a bullet believed to have been fired accidentally by his younger brother as he cleaned a gun.
Wanderson Brandao de Sousa, 18, died instantly on Monday at the family home in the town of Aragoiania in the central Brazilian state of Goias.
His 16-year-old brother has yet to be interviewed by cops but according to local reports, police are focusing on the theory a stray bullet from the rifle he was cleaning hit his older sibling in the neck in a tragic accident.
It is not yet clear who the weapon, which has been seized by police, belonged to.
Tributes have been paid to Wanderson, who played as a left-back for Aragoiania FC. Sports director Silvan Rodrigues Castro suspended all club activities.
The club said in a social media post alongside a black ribbon picture of Wanderson in action: “Wanderson Brandon de Sousa. Our condolences to family and friends. May God console all our hearts.”
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State resident Jose Guapo said on social media: “The town of Aragoiania is in shock following the death of the under-20 player Wanderson, who died after being hit by a bullet from a rifle.
“The gun was fired accidentally by his younger 16-year-old brother.
“Wanderson was considered a promising athlete and had started to play for Aragoiania’s senior team.”
Lourdes Morais replied saying: “It’s so sad when a tragedy like this happen. May God comfort this boy’s family and friends.”
A number of other football clubs in the region sent their condolences.
One friend said: “You will never be forgotten. You’ll stay in our hearts.”
Last month another young Brazilian footballer died after crashing into a cow wandering across the road while he was on his motorbike.
Antony Ylano was thrown to the ground as he hit the animal at speed in the early-hours October 20 accident and is said to have died at the scene.
The promising striker was an U20 player for Piaui Esporte Clube which announced after the tragedy it was cancelling all activities for the day while it mourned his death.
The club, which has competed twice in Brazil’s top-flight Serie A league in 1979 and 1986 and plays out of a stadium in Teresina in the north-east state of Piaui, paid tribute confirming Antony’s death hours after it occurred.
They said: “Club Deportivo Piaui is experiencing a moment of profound grief with the loss of striker Antony Ylano, who was the victim of an accident.
“Ylano had been wearing the team colours since 2024 and competed with us in the Piauiense Under-20, the Sao Paulo Jr Cup, and the Northeast Under-20 Cup.
“In another challenge for the club, the athlete was preparing to travel with the team that competed in the Copa Brasil Sub-20.”
Footage of the horror accident showed Antony hitting the last of one of five cows that were crossing the BR343 road in the municipality of Altos a 40-minute drive east of Teresina.
Local reports at the time said the footballer was heading back home from his dad’s birthday celebrations when the fatal collision occurred.
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