A 15-year-old footballer has been shot dead in Brazil after playing in a friendly match, with police saying he was not the intended target of the attack.
Micael Leandro da Silva, a former São Paulo youth player, was killed on Saturday, 1 August, shortly after taking part in a match in the Taça das Grotas amateur football tournament in Maceió, Alagoas.
According to investigators, the teenager was mistakenly hit by gunfire during an attack believed to have been carried out by members of rival drug trafficking groups. Police said there was no evidence that Micael had any connection to criminal activity.
The young player was taken to hospital after being shot but later died from his injuries. Several other people were also wounded during the incident.
Micael’s father, Marcos Antônio Leandro, a painter, said the family had been devastated by the loss of his son.
“My family has been torn apart by two criminals who came and shot my son in the back. The match had just finished and he was getting changed, so he had no chance to run. I’m devastated,” he said.
Micael, who was the youngest of five children, had built a promising career in football from a young age. He previously trained at São Paulo’s youth academy, where he represented the club’s Under-14 and Under-15 teams at the Cotia Youth Academy.
He joined São Paulo in the second half of 2025 and remained with the club until April 2026, helping the youth side win the Copa Fictor Under-15 title.
At the time of his death, Micael was training with Centro Sportivo Alagoano (CSA) and was preparing to join Retrô FC Brasil in Camaragibe, Pernambuco.
His father described him as a talented player who was passionate about football and had already achieved success in youth competitions.
“From a very young age, he stood out in football. It was all he lived and breathed. He had already won futsal and football titles with CSA,” Marcos said.
He added that Micael had been looking forward to returning to competitive football and beginning a new chapter with Retrô.
Football was also part of Micael’s family background. His father had played amateur football, while his cousin, Júlio “Peu” dos Santos Ângelo, became a respected CSA figure and won the Club World Cup with Flamengo.
Marcos said he had always supported his son’s ambitions despite financial challenges, adding that he raised his children with humility and strong values.
Police are continuing their investigation, with witnesses being interviewed and evidence collected to identify those responsible. Authorities are also examining CCTV footage from the area. No arrests have been made.
