Sao Paulo, Brazil (CNN) -- João Rodrigo Silva Santos didn't come home Monday night.

When the former professional footballer's wife opened the door on her way to work the next morning, she found his severed head on their front step.

The head was inside a backpack, police said. Santos' eyes and tongue had been gouged out, according to Brazilian media reports.

Player stabbed, referee dismembered over soccer quarrel in Brazil

Now police in Rio de Janeiro are investigating the grisly killing, though they haven't said who they believe is behind it.

Santos, 35, was a forward for a number of mostly second-tier Rio de Janeiro football teams before retiring and opening a health foods store.

His death comes at a time when football fans worldwide are shifting their focus toward Brazil, which will host the World Cup in 2014.

Late last year, the country announced it was pumping $900 million dollars into its security budget to make the competition "one of the most protected sports events in history."

World football's ruling body FIFA had expressed concern about Brazil's increasing crime rate, particularly in Sao Paulo.

One police official told Brazil's O Globo newspaper that authorities are investigating whether a recent post on the store's Facebook page could be connected to the crime. The post showed surveillance footage and asked for help catching shoplifters.

Police plan to compare the images to surveillance footage taken at the shop Monday night, chief homicide investigator Rafael Rangel told the newspaper.

The former football player was last seen Monday night, when two suspects entered his vehicle, CNN affiliate TV Record reported.

On Wednesday morning, police said they found parts of a man's body in a river outside the city and were testing the DNA to see whether the remains belong to Santos, TV Record said.

Authorities have interviewed 10 witnesses so far in the case, police said.

According to local media, Santos' wife, Geisa Silva, worked for the police in one of Rio's shantytowns, but as a social worker giving swimming lessons to children, not as a policewoman.

She told investigators she did not know of any threats made against her husband, according to TV Record.

Some of Santos' relatives and neighbors told O Globo that he didn't have any enemies and said they didn't know what could have motivated the attack.

Brazil boosts World Cup security budget as crime rises

Santos started his football career when he was 16 years old, and played for several Brazilian club teams. He played for the Bangu club team from 1996 to 2005, according to a biography on the club's unofficial website.

In 1998, he played for Honduras' Olimpia club. And in 2003 he played for Sweden's Oster club, the website says.

The website calls Santos a "humble hero," describing how goals he scored brought victory to another club team he joined.

According to the FutRio.net football news site, Santos left the field earlier this year to focus on his business.

The site reported that club players in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday honored Santos with a minute of silence.

Source with video visit http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/30/world/brazil-footballer-murder/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Crazy. I read about this earlier today

The culprit must not go unpunished

This is really disheartening. Come to think of it, this news is getting so much publicity because the victim was more or less a celebrity. Many more of such cases go unnoticed all around the world. Makes me wonder where humanity is headed.
May God help us.

Too bad

Bizzare

What a gruesome murder!

that's really bleeped up. I hope the Police "do the needful and bring the Culprits to book....GIVE THEM NO WAIVERS!!!

End time tins




God have mercy

This is too bad

.

what a horrible death!may his soul R.I.P

First to comment, Rip to the dead, all nairalanders are busy on Oduah Saga, *needful things*

why i mine nober 11?

richoko60: First to comment, Rip to the dead, all nairalanders are busy on Oduah Saga, *needful things*

Throw your SIM away.

My eye dey open

.

What a wicked World...RIP Mr Santos

richoko60: First to comment, Rip to the dead, all nairalanders are busy on Oduah Saga, *needful things*

Big learner you are.

The wife is a police woman (UPP)...they've been fighting drug lords for quite sometime now...

Dygeasy: .

Tssssss...I caught one

The key to your better future is you .if you know you're tired of being broke...today might be the day that turns your life around.click this link http:///HtB7bl and ask for Bill

Then you say I should go and cheer Naija in brazil. That's like going for youth service in the meduguri.

Imagine a country where AK47 is like a mobile phone. God forbid. I will cheer naija from home.

.

Police in Brazil speculated that Santos’ beheading could be related to his wife’s work in a local slum, the Daily Mail reports. But local police chief Rafael Rangel said Santos’ wife worked as a social worker, and wasn’t involved in pursuing drug arrests.
However, Yahoo Eurosport reports that Silva’s unit was an active part of Brazil’s effort to crack down on criminal organizations in advance of the 2014 World Cup in Rio. Regardless, the motive behind the beheading remains unclear.

Brazil not safe for world cup come next year!!! mtchew

dvdon: Then you say I should go and cheer Naija in brazil. That's like going for youth service in the meduguri.

Imagine a country where AK47 is like a mobile phone. God forbid. I will cheer naija from home.

haha, I dont think it's that bad.. Don't forget that Brazil is a vast country, so there are bound to be deprived places.... Just avoid them places and you will be fine. I thinking of going.... The football spectacle and the gurls!!!!

The head should replace the ball for the opening world cup game. . .

Little wonder okija_juju is absent of recent, i won't be suprised to hear that he's currently in brazil. . .

ssss