Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Lucas Moura was rushed to the hospital following a horrific injury that left him struggling to breathe.
Sao Paulo suffered their first defeat of the season after losing 1-0 to Atletico Mineiro at the Arena MRV.
That result snapped their six-match unbeaten start to the campaign and also abruptly halted their four-match winning streak.
But there are moments in football when results fade into the background, and that was the case during the otherwise entertaining contest in Brazil.
Moura started the game on the bench but was introduced on the hour mark with coach Roger Machado looking for a spark in attack that could turn the game on its head.
The ex-Tottenham star was supposed to be the ace up his sleeve, but Moura only lasted 13 minutes on the pitch before the unfortunate injury took place.
Moura stretched off with two fractured ribs
The 33-year-old was involved in a heavy collision with Mineiro midfielder Tomas Cuello. Cuello clattered into Moura from behind, delivering a forceful blow that left the Brazilian forward in visible distress.
The impact was severe as Moura took blows to the face and ribs. Medical staff quickly rushed onto the pitch as it became clear the situation was serious.
Struggling to breathe, the former Tottenham star had to be stretchered off and was immediately replaced by Gonzalo Tapia.
Sao Paulo later confirmed that Moura had sustained fractures to two ribs. He was taken to a hospital in Belo Horizonte, where he underwent further tests to assess the full extent of the damage.
“After suffering a trauma during the match this Wednesday against Atletico Mineiro, the attacking midfielder Lucas underwent imaging exams at Hospital Mater Dei in Belo Horizonte and was diagnosed with fractures in two ribs,” the club said in a statement (via The Mirror).
“The athlete is under evaluation at the hospital, awaiting clearance to return to the capital of Sao Paulo and continue treatment at Sao Paulo.”
Moura joined Sao Paulo after running down his Tottenham contract in the summer of 2023.
He spent half a decade in North London and established himself as a cult hero after bagging an iconic hat-trick against Ajax in the 2019 Champions League semi-final.
While he’ll be focused on getting back on his feet, his former employers are locked in a shocking Premier League relegation battle.