Bodybuilder Roberto Silva de Souza, 26, shot dead in street by motorbike gunmen while walking home from football match

A BODYBUILDER has been shot dead by two gunmen on a motorbike on his way home from a football match.

Roberto Silva de Souza, 26, who had previously fought off two armed robbers, was killed in the Brazilian town of Belém.

Roberto, who was studying nutrition, was approached by two men on a motorcycle who fired several shots, witnesses reported.

The bodybuilder, who financed his studies by working as a private security guard, was a local bodybuilding champion, winning the Mister Para 2023 and Mister Presenca Para 2021/2022.

Roberto died at the scene in the Sacramenta neighbourhood on Wednesday.

Police confirmed the case on Thursday, saying that locals heard gunshots and found the victim lying dead on the pavement near a supermarket.

Cops added that Roberto had been robbed by two men in July.

But the brave bodybuilder had fought back, disarming one of the two suspects and shooting at them, with one of them dying in hospital after being fatally injured.

Roberto had reportedly received threats from one of the robbers after the danger encounter, according to local media.

Police are currently investigating the case.

No arrests have yet been made and it is unclear if the two incidents were connected.

Belém, the capital of the state of Pará in Brazil, has historically been known for high crime rates, particularly in certain areas.

Like many large Brazilian cities, it faces challenges related to crime, including theft, robbery, and more serious violent crimes.

Roberto's death comes after a female bodybuilding champion suddenly died just days before she was set to take part in a top-level competition.

Fellow Brazilian Cintia Goldani, 36, from Rio Grande do Sul, reportedly died due to complications of a blood clot.

Her death was announced by to Musclecontest International, the company organising the event she was attending in July.

A pulmonary embolism can be caused by weightlifting and heavy exercise, but organisers said that in Cintia's case, it was caused by a recent bout of pneumonia.

Local media reports said the athlete was rushed to hospital but passed away.

Goldani had only started her professional career in 2021 and was set to attend one of Brazil's biggest bodybuilding events.

Her final Instagram post on June 17 read: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit."

Musclecontest International said in a statement: "With great pain and sadness, we hereby inform you of the death of Professional Figure Athlete Cintia Goldani due to complications from pneumonia.

"Cintia was an angel in human form. God needed reinforcement in heaven. She will never be forgotten by the MuscleContest family.

"Cintia was the presenter of the Figure category on our channel."