The former Brazilian soccer player who lives on the street and is addicted to crack: “I don’t want anyone to know that I exist”

Régis Fernandes da Silva, known as Régis Pitbull, He could become another Brazilian star at the world level. As were Ronaldinho, Marcelo, Neymar and a long etcetera. However, drugs crossed his path and now, at 49 years old, he lives poorly on the streets of Sao Paulo.

He came to play for Corinthians and Vasco, but crackto whom he recognizes that he is addicted, It led him to lose his home and his family. He only has one of the properties he had left, but he had to abandon it in December 2025 after attacking the building manager.

Thus, in these deplorable conditions, the Brazilian journalist Emilio Botta found him, after some former teammates with whom he played on an amateur team raised the alarm about his situation. among garbage and useless things. It is fed by coffee and thanks to the food they donate in the restaurant across the street from where he has set up camp.

“The fans came on Sunday to talk to me, they want to help me. I’m a big Corinthians fan, they always remember me,” says Régis. The problem is that he He flatly refuses to receive help. “If they think I’m dead, even better. I don’t want anyone to know I exist,” he says most bluntly.

His only hobby, riding his bicycle aimlessly. The rest of the time, lying in the tent that he has improvised with cardboard and canvas and watching the hours and days go by.