Portuguese national team defender João Cancelo has opened up about a life-altering tragedy during a recent interview. He recounted the harrowing car accident that took place on Portugal’s A2 highway, which resulted in the death of his mother, Filomena Cancelo.
Cancelo revealed that the traumatic moments of the accident remain fresh in his memory. He expressed that the wound from losing his mother will never fully heal. With tears in his eyes, he described the events that unfolded in an instant, clearly marking a division in his life into “before” and “after.” One of his most haunting recollections is of his mother’s final scream, which he continues to hear, alongside the deep sense of helplessness he experienced.
As a teenager, Cancelo recalled his desperate attempts to save his mother from the wreckage of the car. While his eight-year-old brother cried in fear, he tried to lift the twisted metal with his bare hands, but faced the unyielding reality of the situation.