Brazilian club Sao Paulo issued a statement mourning the death of their player Mikael Leandro da Silva, who died at the age of 15 after being shot during a football tournament.
Sao Paulo said in its statement: "It is with great sadness that Sao Paulo Football Club mourns the death of Mikael Leandro da Silva, which occurred on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in Maceió, Alagoas. The player was 15 years old."
"Mikael joined the club in the second half of last year and stayed with us until April of this year, playing for the under-14 and under-15 teams in Kotia, and contributing to winning the Victor Cup under-15 title in 2026."
Eyewitnesses reported that the player was shot before being taken to the state's general hospital, but he died from his injuries.
The club concluded its statement by offering its sincere condolences to the player’s family and friends, affirming its solidarity with them in this painful loss.
According to initial information from the Alagoas Civil Police, Mikael was not the intended target of the shooting but was hit by mistake, confirming that there are no indications of his involvement in criminal activities.
Initial investigations revealed that the gunman was targeting another man who was participating in the tournament, causing panic among the players and the fans present.
