Garrincha's Family Says Brazilian Football Legend's Remains Are Missing

The family of Brazil legend Mane Garrincha have said the whereabouts of his remains are unknown.

They told O Globo's Marcos Nunes (h/t BBC Sport) the winger's remains may have gone missing in an exhumation.

Garrincha, who won two FIFA World Cups with the Selecao during an 11-year international career, died aged 49 in 1983 of cirrhosis of the liver.

Joao Rogoginsky, his cousin, said the Brazil star's bones were removed in 2007 to be put in a niche when another relative died and was buried in the same location.

He was not present at the exhumation, though, and added "the family did not receive any documents."

Garrincha's daughter, Rosangela Santos, said: "My father did not deserve this. It's very upsetting not knowing where he is. The mayor has promised him a mausoleum but they need to find him first."

The footballer was buried in a cemetery in Mage, the area of Rio de Janeiro in which he was born.

An administrator for the site said: "There's no certainty that he's buried. We have information that the body was exhumed but there is no document that proves this."

Mayor of Mage Rafael Tubarao has suggested running DNA tests on the remains left in the grave, provided Garrincha's family agree to another exhumation.

According to the BBC, cemeteries in Brazil are typically divided into two areas, one for tombs containing bodies and one for walls with niches containing bones or ashes.

However, as well as the tomb in which he was originally buried in 1983 along with his family, another tomb at the cemetery bears Garrincha's name, which was built two years later and marked with an obelisk.

Garrincha scored 12 goals in 50 appearances for Brazil between 1955 and 1966, while he spent the bulk of his club career with Botafogo before brief spells with the likes of Corinthians and Flamengo.