Ex-Footballer Beheaded Then Has Head Put In Rucksack And Left Outside Family Home

A FORMER professional footballer's head was severed and left on the doorstep of his home for his horrified wife to discover.

SEVERED: Brazilian footballer Joao Rodrigo Silva Santos' head was found in a rucksack outside his home in Rio [TV GLOBO]

A report by Daily Star has it that a Brazilian footballer Joao Rodrigo Silva Santos' wife found her husband's head in a rucksack as she left their Rio de Janeiro home on Tuesday morning.

The 35-year-old's tongue and eyes had also been cut out according to police.

Mr Santos retired from the game two years ago after a career which saw him appear for several Rio teams as well as clubs in Honduras and Sweden.

RIO: The murder took place in one of Rio de Janeiro's poorer areas [GETTY]

Since quitting football he had started his own business selling health foods and various dietary aids.

Police believe the former footballer was attacked as he left his shop on Monday night after witnesses confirmed seeing several men forcing him into a car.

Investigators are looking into whether Mr Santos was murdered by a drugs ring due to his wife's work at a nearby military police base.

HOST: Rio's Maracana Stadium will host next summer's World Cup final [GETTY]

Police chief Rafael Rangel has told Brazil's O Dia newspaper the reasons for the shocking murder are still unclear.

He said: "Mrs Silva has no idea who would have done this.

"Neither she, her husband or any other member of the family have suffered any type of threat as far as she knows.

"There is nothing that would justify such a barbarous crime."

Officers are still searching for the rest of Mr Santos' body.