A soccer star’s dad has died after being stabbed in the neck.
Marigerson Barbosa Carneiro, the father of Santos and Brazil star Rony, was stabbed in the neck inside his own home yesterday (9 November).
The 72-year-old received medical attention from a healthcare team and was taken to a medical centre, but succumbed to his injuries.
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Police said officers were alerted to the incident by telephone at around 3:30 pm.
A knife measuring approximately 20cm (8in), believed to have been used in the attack, was seized.
A woman identified as Selma Soares Cordovil was arrested at the scene in Terra Alta, Brazil, on suspicion of murder and taken to the local police station.
At the time of the latest update, there was no information about the 48-year-old’s relationship with the victim or the motive for the killing.
Rony, 31, wrote online yesterday: “Today I received one of the most difficult pieces of news of my life: the death of my father.
“I face this moment with deep sadness and a heavy heart, but I remain steadfast in my faith, trusting that God is our strength and will give us the strength to get through this difficult time.”
The striker gave special thanks to Neymar, who made his private plane available to help his family travel, as reported by Need To Know.
He also thanked Santos, the coaching staff and, in particular, manager Cuca, for their understanding and support following the news.
Rony added: “I also want to thank all my friends, relatives and everyone who has been keeping me and my family in their prayers and offering their support.”
In a statement, Santos said it “deeply regrets what happened” and confirmed that it had released the centre-forward to be with his family.
Rony, whose full name is Ronielson da Silva Barbosa, hails from Magalhães Barata and can also play as a left or right winger.
Before joining Santos in January, he represented several heavyweight Brazilian clubs, including Palmeiras, Atlético Mineiro, Cruzeiro and Athletico Paranaense.
In 2017-18, he had an overseas stint in Japan, playing for top-flight side Albirex Niigata, before returning to Brazil following their relegation.
He earned three caps for the Brazil national team in 2023.
His honours include two Copa Libertadores titles, two Brazilian league titles, two Brazilian Cups, a Copa Sudamericana, a Recopa Sudamericana and a Supercopa do Brasil.
The investigation is ongoing.
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