Chapecoense goalkeeper Nivaldo has announced his retirement from football after the majority of his teammates were killed in a tragic plane crash.
Only three members of the travelling squad survived when their flight plunged into a mountainside in Medellin, Colombia on Monday night due to a reported electrical failure.
Manager Caio Junior, the coaching staff, members of the cabin crew and 20 journalists were among the 71 people who died in the crash.
Nivaldo was not with the rest of the squad, who were on their way to compete in the Copa Sudamericana final, as he had decided to mark his 300th appearance with a home game against Atletico Mineiro.
However, the 42-year-old will no longer reach that feat as he has decided to retire from the sport.
While fighting to hold back the tears, Nivaldo told Globosporte: "I was supposed to go on the trip but ended up staying.
"Everything has a reason in life. I didn't travel to Palmeiras [on Sunday] because it would make my farewell game to play here against Atletico-MG, when I would complete 300 games for the club.
"As there was a change in the trip, they would not return to Chapeco and instead go straight from Sao Paulo to Medellin. So Caio said he would not take me."
Chapecoense's opponents in the final Atletico Nacional have asked for the trophy to be awarded to the grief-stricken club.
Danielle Joynson
