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1 year ago
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This is the dramatic moment former Brazil international Fred has a gun pointed to his head during a terror armed raid.
The retired footballer is forced out of his car after being intercepted by a violent gang and surrenders by lying on the pavement face-down and remaining there for 17 seconds before looking for help after the robbers drive off with his vehicle.
The drama occurred just after 1am on Thursday as Fred, who scored 18 goals in his 39 appearances for his country, left the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro following his club Fluminense’s 1-0 league victory over São Paulo.
The 40-year-old, Fluminense’s current director of sports planning, had stayed on at the stadium for an informal meeting with players and other club officials following the win.
He was robbed in the Brazilian city’s famous Ipanema neighbourhood.
Fred was accosted while driving home from a late meeting with Fluminense, where he is director of sports
The 40-year-old was followed by a white car down a street before two men jump out and force him to get out his vehicle and lie on the street
The armed gang then drive off in Fred's Mercedes and also reportedly took his mobile phone
Footage of the incident, which lasted just 46 seconds from start to finish, showed three men getting out of a white car that had been following him and running up to his vehicle before forcing him out at gunpoint.
Another two accomplices on a motorbike appeared to be waiting nearby on the lookout for police.
As well as his luxury motor, the robbers also took Fred’s mobile.
He was seen getting up, shaken but unharmed, and appearing to look for help after they drove off in his vehicle.
There has not yet been any official comment from police and no arrests are thought to have taken place.
Fred, full name Frederico Chaves Guedes, is the second-highest goalscorer of Fluminense’s history, with 199 goals across all competitions.
He is also the second-highest goalscorer of Brazil’s top-flight Serie A league, with 159 goals.
His club sides included Atletico Mineiro, Cruzeiro and Lyon in France, where he helped the team win three consecutive Ligue 1 titles.
He made his debut for Brazil in 2005 and was selected for the 2006 World Cup.
The striker was one of the scapegoats for Brazil failing to win the 2014 tournament following a humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany.
Fred retired as a Fluminense legend in 2022 after becoming the club's second-highest goalscorer in history
The player scored 18 goals in his 39 interntional appearances and featured at 2006 World Cup
In 2020 he completed a 370-mile charity bike ride from Belo Horizonte to Rio ahead of his second spell with Fluminense, where he would go on to cement his spot in the club’s history books by becoming their second all-time top goalscorer.
With the goal of raising money for charity, companies who sponsored Fred's ride gave out food kits for each kilometre he rode. The end result saw around 4,000 food baskets handed out.
Fred's return unfortunately coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, and he was greeted by empty streets for his morning arrival as he wore a mask and waved a Fluminense shirt after five days on his bike.
He retired from professional football in July last year.
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