lit a candle 3h agoHenrique foi um dos grandes do nosso time. Aquele gol contra o Atletico nunca vou esquecer, jogava com o coração na mão.
Their story
Leonardo Henrique Peixoto dos Santos, known throughout Brazilian football simply as Henrique, was a centre-back whose name is woven into Vasco da Gama's late-1990s golden generation and into one of Sao Januario's most replayed survival goals. Born in Rio de Janeiro on 16 July 1977, he came through Bonsucesso and…
Leonardo Henrique Peixoto dos Santos, known throughout Brazilian football simply as Henrique, was a centre-back whose name is woven into Vasco da Gama's late-1990s golden generation and into one of Sao Januario's most replayed survival goals. Born in Rio de Janeiro on 16 July 1977, he came through Bonsucesso and Vasco's youth ranks before turning professional with the Gigante da Colina in 1998.
That first senior season placed him inside a squad that conquered South America. Henrique was part of the Vasco group that won the 1998 Copa Libertadores, then collected the Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo and Taça Rio in 1999, the Taça Guanabara, Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Mercosul in 2000, and further Rio state cups in 2001 and 2004. Tall at 1.88 m and comfortable with either foot, he did not always start, yet he remained a trusted squad defender during the club's most decorated modern stretch.
A loan to Litex Lovech in Bulgaria between 2001 and 2003 took him to Europe, where Portuguese-language accounts later recalled racist abuse from some teammates. He returned to Sao Januario in 2003 and soon became a folk figure for late goals that mattered. Against Figueirense in the 2003 Brasileiro he scored in the final minute of a match that helped keep Vasco clear of the drop. In 2004, on the penultimate round, he headed the only goal in a 1-0 win over Athletico Paranaense at Sao Januario, again protecting the club's top-flight place. Leaving the pitch he said opponents had supposedly bought champagne for a lap of honour there, and that he doubted they would manage it: the goal, he said, was struck with plenty of anger. Fans still call it the gol com raiva.
After leaving Vasco he wore the shirts of Atletico Mineiro, Portuguesa, Fluminense, Madureira, Vila Nova, Itumbiara, Goias, Nautico and America-RJ. At Itumbiara he won Goiano state honours, and with Goias he added another Campeonato Goiano title in 2009. He retired from playing around 2011 and later worked as an assistant coach at Duque de Caxias.
Henrique died in Rio de Janeiro on 16 September 2026, aged 49. Vasco, Duque de Caxias and the Rio state football federation published tributes; FERJ arranged a minute's silence in matches that week. Early club and media statements did not give a cause of death. He is remembered as a cria da Colina, a Libertadores champion, and the defender whose angry header once saved Vasco when it needed him most.
Biography adapted from Portuguese and English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); VEJA; Metropoles; SuperVasco; NetVasco; Terra; Vasco da Gama club statement via X; WorldFootball.net.
In their own words
“Disseram que o Atletico comprou o champanhe para dar a volta olimpica aqui. Aqui eu duvido dar a volta olimpico. Foi um gol feito com muita raiva.”
Henrique after his 2004 winner against Athletico Paranaense at Sao Januario, quoted by VEJA (Portuguese original; accents simplified in some press reprints)
“E com o mais profundo pesar que recebemos a noticia do falecimento do ex-zagueiro e Cria da Colina Henrique, aos 49 anos.”
Vasco da Gama official X tribute, 16 September 2026
“Descanse em paz, Henrique.”
Closing line of Vasco da Gama's club tribute, 16 September 2026
“Mais do que um profissional, Henrique foi um amigo, alguem que fazia parte da nossa familia e que deixara uma saudade imensa.”
Duque de Caxias official note, quoted by VEJA, September 2026
“Leonardo Henrique Peixoto dos Santos subiu ao profissional do Gigante da Colina em 1998 e integrou o elenco ate 2004, participando dos titulos da Libertadores de 98, da Mercosul de 2000 e do Brasileirao de 2000.”
Vasco da Gama career summary in the club's death announcement
Photos
5Henrique in Vasco colours, used in Brazilian coverage of his death in September 2026
by People Forever
Henrique during his playing career, archived by SuperVasco
by People Forever
NetVasco tribute image published with news of Henrique's death, 16 September 2026
by People Forever
Alternate crop of Henrique from SuperVasco's archive
by People Forever
Your dad sounds like he knew what Vasco really meant. Those 90s teams were something special.