DHAKA: Fernandão, the striker who led Internacional to Copa Libertadores and World Club Cup triumphs in 2006, has died in a helicopter crash in central Brazil, his former club said on Saturday.

The Guardian, on Sunday reports that Fernandão was 36.

The helicopter crashed in Aruanã with five people on board and none survived, according to news reports.

“I am saddened by the death of Fernandão, a hero to all Internacional fans and all lovers of football,” the Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff – herself an Internacional fan – said on Twitter.

“On the field he was world champion, off the field he was an example of a man of character.”

Fernando Lúcio da Costa played 190 times for the Porto Alegre club and scored 77 goals. He also managed the side in 2012. He played for Ligue 1 Marseille for three seasons between 2001 and 2004 and in 2005 he won his solitary cap for the Brazilian national side in a 3-0 friendly win over Guatemala.

BDST: 1641 HRS, JUNE 08, 2014