THIS is the dramatic moment ex-Brazil star Fred is forced out of his car at gunpoint during a terrifying armed robbery.
The drama took place on Thursday night after the former striker left the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro following his club’s league victory over São Paulo.
4The assailants forced Fred out of his car at gunpointCredit: X/Plantao Baixada RJ
4Fred was seen rushing behind a nearby tree and lying on the pavement with his face downCredit: X/Plantao Baixada RJ
4He made his debut for Brazil in 2005 and was selected for the 2006 World Cup
The camera footage shows three men getting out of a white car that had been following Fret and running up to his vehicle before forcing him out at gunpoint.
Two other men on a motorbike appeared to be waiting nearby on the lookout for police.
After being pulled out of his car, Fred was seen rushing behind a nearby tree and lying on the pavement with his face down.
The robbers also took Fred’s mobile, apart from his luxury SUV,
The retired footballer, 40, had stayed on at the stadium for an informal meeting with players and other club officials following the win.
After leaving the stadium, he was looted in the Brazilian city’s famous Ipanema neighbourhood.
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.
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’s failure to win the 2014 tournament following a humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany.
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.
4Fred starred with Neymar at the 2014 World Cup
