Rio de Janeiro was plunged into a terrible tragedy this morning: Neymar, Brazil’s number one football star, died after a private plane crash just a few kilometers from the international airport. 15 minutes ago, the luxury jet carrying Neymar and his crew suddenly lost control, crashed into the suburbs and exploded like a fireball. Police quickly confirmed the painful news: “Neymar did not survive.”
The scene was an unprecedentedly gruesome scene. Thick black smoke rose dozens of meters high, the smell of burning fuel spread throughout the neighborhood. Many witnesses recounted in panic: “We saw the plane spin, flames came out of the engine and then crashed straight into the ground. The explosion shook the windows of my house.” Images recorded by paparazzi showed debris flying everywhere, suitcases and personal belongings half-burned, and fans crying out his name outside the police line.
Emergency rescue teams rushed in in desperation. Paramedics pulled Neymar from the rubble, put on an oxygen mask, and performed CPR continuously in the midst of the smoke. The ambulance’s siren echoed throughout the street, and the red and blue lights reflected on the panicked faces of the crowd. But his body was covered in blood and his injuries were so severe that all efforts were in vain. A medical worker choked: “We knew him, and we did everything.”
At the Rio hospital, the ICU room was as bright as day. Monitors continuously went red, doctors took turns giving him electric shocks and IV fluids, and his heart stopped beating several times. The news quickly leaked out, attracting thousands of fans to gather in front of the hospital gate. They lit candles, held No. 10 shirts, and chanted his name in tears.
Global social networks exploded. Hashtags #PrayForNeymar and #GoodbyeNeymar flooded Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. Former teammates Messi, Mbappé, Dani Alves… posted trembling farewells. The Brazilian president said on television: “Neymar is not just a player, he is the soul of Brazilian football. Today, our country is in mourning.”
The climax of the mourning came when the hospital officially confirmed that Neymar had passed away. The cries broke out. Fans hugged each other and collapsed, many of them unconscious right in front of the hospital gate. A double incident occurred when the crowd jostled and caused part of the protective fence to collapse, injuring dozens of people and forcing the ambulance to turn back. In the sky, a television helicopter circled to record when it lightly collided with a drone, adding to the chaos.
Rio de Janeiro night was lit by tens of thousands of candles. A sea of people poured into the streets, singing the national anthem, holding high a portrait of Neymar covered in white flowers. At the Maracanã stadium, hundreds of torches were lit, turning the place into a giant memorial. People talked about a national day of mourning, about a bronze monument erected in the middle of the city square.
Neymar – the man who once carried the faith of Brazilian football – passed away in a tragic fire, leaving a permanent void in the hearts of millions of football lovers around the world.
