A former youth player with Brazilian Serie A side Cruzeiro has di£d weeks after being hit by a stray bullet.

 

Joao Victor da Silva Santos, 22, had been in a coma for three weeks in hospital in his native city of Maceio in the north-eastern state of Alagoas.

 

He was celebrating the anniversary of Palma Alagoana, a local team in Maceio owned by an uncle when he was critically injured.

 

Tributes were being paid today, Feb. 4, to Joao, a midfielder with Cruzeiro’s Under-17 team, after it was confirmed he had lost his fight for life yesterday, Feb. 3, at Alagoas State General Hospital where he was admitted to intensive care following the January 11 shooting.

 

Parma Alagoana, where Joao who was better known by his nickname of Vitao played for its seven-a-side team, said in an online statement alongside a photo of the athlete: “It is with great sadness that the Parma Family expresses its solidarity at this time of profound grief over the loss of athlete Vitao.

 

“His story, his dedication, and his smile will remain forever etched in the memory of all who had the privilege of knowing him.

 

“May God comfort the hearts of his family, friends, and teammates, giving them strength to face this irreparable loss. Vitao is gone, but his legacy lives on among us.”

 

Cruzeiro, one of Brazil’s most successful clubs and the biggest in the history of Latin America, has yet to comment on its social media.

 

Joao was part of Cruzeiro’s youth set-up between 2019 and 2021, scoring one goal in his 33 appearances.

 

His teammates there included Cruzeiro goalkeeper Otavio Costa and Vitor Roque, now playing for Palmeiras and the Brazil national team.

 

He went on to make his professional football debut with Brazilian Serie C side Sao Bernardo although he was not playing professionally when he was injured.

 

Few details have emerged so far about the circumstances in which Joao was shot, although local reports say he was hit by a stray bullet.