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João Cancelo's life story: the traffic accident that marked him and the violent robbery he suffered
🇦🇷 Argentina /Crime & Justice

João Cancelo's life story: the traffic accident that marked him and the violent robbery he suffered

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Portuguese soccer star João Cancelo shared the profound impact of his mother's death in a 2013 car accident when he was 18.
  • He described the traumatic moments of the crash and his inability to save his mother, which led to a period of losing interest in football.
  • Cancelo eventually found motivation to continue his career, driven by his father's request to support the family and his own love for the game.

Portuguese international João Cancelo, currently a key player for Barcelona, has revealed the deep emotional scars left by a tragic car accident that claimed his mother's life in 2013. The incident occurred when Cancelo was just 18, on the cusp of his professional career.

It was an instant that changed my life forever. I remember some things. I remember my mother's last scream. I remember my brother crying, who was still a child, eight years old.

— João CanceloThe footballer describes the immediate aftermath of the car accident that killed his mother.

In an interview with Portuguese channel SIC, Cancelo recounted the harrowing details of the crash. He was traveling with his younger brother and mother after dropping his father at Lisbon airport when the accident happened. "It was an instant that changed my life forever. I remember some things. I remember my mother's last scream. I remember my brother crying, who was still a child, eight years old," he confessed. He described trying desperately to free his mother from the wreckage, but the car had veered into a wooded area, making rescue impossible.

The psychological aftermath was devastating. Cancelo admitted that for a significant period, he lost his passion for football, feeling like a "robot" going through the motions. "When I lost my mother, I felt like I was at the bottom of a well. I felt like a robot that had to do its job, then go home, day after day. I didn't enjoy football, I was playing because I had to. I really thought about giving up because it no longer made sense," he stated. Benfica urged him to return to training, recognizing his immense talent.

I tried to lift the car to get my mother out from under it, but I couldn't. It was all very dark, we were among the bushes. I tried to lift with all my strength, but I couldn't, lifting a car is completely impossible.

— João CanceloCancelo recounts his desperate, futile attempt to rescue his mother from the wreckage.

His father's encouragement played a crucial role in his recovery. After a period of intense grief, his father asked him to find the strength to support the family, prompting João to return to the sport. This responsibility, coupled with his enduring love for the game, helped him rebuild his career, which has seen him play for top European clubs like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona. In 2021, Cancelo also experienced a violent robbery while living in Manchester.

When I lost my mother, I felt like I was at the bottom of a well. I felt like a robot that had to do its job, then go home, day after day. I didn't enjoy football, I was playing because I had to. I really thought about giving up because it no longer made sense.

— João CanceloHe explains the profound loss of interest in football following his mother's death.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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