Lúcio, the legendary former Brazilian international defender, is known for his powerful presence on the pitch. Now 47, he’s facing a different kind of battle off the field. A terrible home accident in May left him with severe burns. The man who once bossed defenses for giants like Inter and Juventus is now navigating a long road to recovery.
The former soccer star suffered burns to 18 percent of his body. He spent 20 grueling days in the hospital. During that time, he underwent several surgeries. It was a true test of his strength, both physical and mental.
“God gave me a second half in this game,” Lúcio recently shared with ‘Gazzetta dello Sport.’ He admitted that getting over the shock will take some time. The mental hurdles are especially tough to clear. He believes he’ll need a few more months to get back to 100 percent. Still, he feels the worst is finally behind him.
Lúcio described his hospitalization as a “true trauma.” Burns, he explained, are incredibly difficult to handle. They challenge you physically and deeply affect you psychologically. He continues to receive skin treatments, which take a long time. But each day, he feels himself improving.
He vividly recalled the night everything changed. It happened suddenly while he was having dinner at a friend’s house. This was just after celebrating his birthday on May 8th. The ecological fireplace they were using went out. A friend tried to restart the fire. Tragically, he threw a can of alcohol onto it, causing an explosion.
“I only remember the flames on my face, on my arms, and on my legs,” Lúcio recounted. His wife, thankfully, escaped without injury. In the immediate aftermath, Lúcio quickly jumped into the pool. He was transferred from Brasília to Rio Grande do Sul on May 21st. The pain was immense, making it very hard to sleep. He had never spent so much time in a hospital before. The surgeries were essential for removing damaged tissues and applying special dressings.