Edson Lopez Gama, a 16-year-old goalkeeper from Brazil’s Amazonas region, serves for an amateur club in the state. During a training drill, he attempted to stop a penalty kick with his chest; the shot was blocked, but the following touch could not be saved, and the moment carried a heavy weight for the young player and those watching nearby.
The ball struck him in the area between the sternum and the diaphragm, and he dropped to the ground in intense pain. An ambulance was requested, and he was carried to a hospital. The journey lasted about 11 hours, a lengthy and arduous ride. Despite efforts at the hospital, doctors were unable to help Gama.
The incident took place on January 5. The teenager had no known history of heart problems or heart disease prior to this event.
The goalkeeper’s brother paid tribute on social media, posting a message that reflected both admiration and sorrow for his sibling’s dedication and cheerful nature. “Today you touched the whole of Brazil, I never thought it could be like this. You were a dedicated player and a child who was never sad and always happy”, he wrote.
Earlier information noted that Dinamo can punish a foreign player who does not attend a training camp, a detail that adds to the broader discussion around discipline and youth sports in the region.