Brazilian soccer fans were stunned this week when second-division star Thiago da Silva was attacked and murdered on a soccer field in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. A former member of Vasco da Gama, one of the nation's most popular teams, da Silva was overwhelmed by three men who handcuffed and beat him, then shot him three times when he tried to escape. Police say they have already arrested the real culprit—his ex-girlfriend who hired the assassins to do him in.

Da Silva—not to be confused with the MMA star or the other Brazilian national team member with the same name—managed to hang on in the hospital for six days and tip off police about the incident before dying from his injuries. The girlfriend and her aunt will be charged with the death.

• Brazilian Footballer Brutally Murdered [Goal.com]

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