AUGUSTO CORRÊA, PARÁ, BRAZIL – SEPTEMBER 2, 2025 During a futsal tournament held to celebrate Brazilian Independence Day, a fatal incident occurred. The goalkeeper, identified as Antonio Edson dos Santos Sousa, nicknamed Pixé, blocked a penalty with his body. The ball struck him hard in the chest. As he walked toward his team to celebrate the save, he managed only a few steps before collapsing. Emergency services were called, but he died before they arrived.
His body was taken to a medical institute for an autopsy, though the results have not yet been released. It is speculated that Edson may have suffered from a rare congenital heart rhythm disorder (commotio cordis). In such cases, a direct impact to the heart at a critical moment in the cardiac cycle can cause the heart to stop.
The incident serves as a reminder that sports can be dangerous. When pushing the body to extreme physical performance, prevention and regular medical check-ups are essential. Worldwide, deaths in football are not rare and occur with some regularity. As a preventive measure, having automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) available at sports facilities is highly recommended.
