Paollo Madeira

Paollo Madeira Oliveira (8 July 1996 – 12 August 2023), simply known as Paollo, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward. He also held Portuguese citizenship.

Early life
Paollo was born on 8 July 1996 in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil and moved to Portugal when he was 8. Before arriving in Vietnam, he had played for several clubs in Portugal.

Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh
Paollo joined V.League 1 club Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh, on loan from S.C. Farense before 2022 season. He made 25 appearances and scored 8 goals, help his team safe from relegation.

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai
Due to not being able to find a common voice in the contract of 2023 season, Paollo left for Hoàng Anh Gia Lai on trial. In this season, he played 15 matches and scored 6 goals.

Death
After the final match of the 2023 season against Sông Lam Nghệ An at Vinh Stadium, the team was allowed to relax. However, on the way back from Buôn Ma Thuột to Pleiku (running on National Highway 14, from Đắk Lắk to Gia Lai), when passing at Chư Pưh district, suddenly, the car was hit hard by a truck from behind, forcing another truck in front. It was located between two trucks, flattened and severely damaged. Three deceased members of the team (including doctor Đào Trọng Trí, assistant coach Dương Minh Ninh and Paollo himself) were trapped in the vehicle, the truck driver had to back out, break the door and get them out.

It is known that after the match against Song Lam Nghe An, due to not being able to find a direct flight back to Pleiku, the team was forced to fly back to Buôn Ma Thuột. Here, he and two other members of the team returned to Pleiku when they had a traffic accident and could not survive.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai had helped to Paollo's family transporting his body back to his final resting place in his hometown in Portugal.