BRAZIL football legend Zico fell victim to a robbery in Paris after thieves snatched his briefcase with £420,000 worth of valuable items.
The ex-Flamengo star left his hotel in a taxi carrying with him a Rolex watch, a diamond necklace and bank notes inside the precious case.
It is understood one person approached the taxi driver to distract him, while a second snatched the briefcase from the back of the vehicle.
French officials have since launched a probe to locate Thursday night’s criminals, Le Parisien reports.
France’s Brigade for the Repression of Banditry is said to be leading the investigation.
Zico is currently in Paris as a member of Brazil’s Olympic delegation.
Born Arthur Antunes Coimbra on March 3, 1953, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Zico is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
His career, spanning from the early 1970s to the early 1990s, was marked by exceptional skill, vision, and goal-scoring ability.
Zico’s professional career began and was predominantly spent at Flamengo, one of Brazil’s most prestigious clubs.
His tenure at Flamengo is legendary, marked by numerous Campeonato Carioca (Rio de Janeiro State Championship) titles and four Brazilian Serie A championships (1980, 1982, 1983, 1987).
The pinnacle of his club career came in 1981 when Flamengo won the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup, defeating Liverpool 3-0 in the latter.
Zico was instrumental in these victories, cementing his status as a club legend.
In 1983, Zico moved to Italy‘s Udinese, where he made an immediate impact despite playing for a mid-table team.
He scored 19 goals in 24 matches in his first season, showcasing his talent in Serie A.
After a brief return to Flamengo, he concluded his club career in Japan with the Kashima Antlers from 1991 to 1994.
During his time in Japan, Zico helped popularise the sport and contributed significantly to the development of the J.League, earning the title “God of Soccer” in Japan.
On the international stage, Zico had an illustrious career with the Brazil national team, earning 71 caps and scoring 48 goals.
He played in three FIFA World Cups (1978, 1982, and 1986), with the 1982 World Cup team remembered as one of the greatest teams never to have won the tournament.
Though he never won a World Cup, Zico’s performances in international fixtures were pivotal, and he remains one of Brazil’s most celebrated players.
After retiring as a player, Zico transitioned into management, with stints at clubs like Fenerbahçe, CSKA Moscow, Olympiacos, and national teams such as Japan and Iraq.
He also served as Brazil’s Minister of Sports and worked in various administrative capacities, influencing football policies and development.
Zico is often compared to other football greats like Pelé and Maradona and is regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation.
His legacy is cemented by numerous accolades, including being named in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players in 2004 and his induction into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame.
