Leandro Domingues, who played for Kashiwa Reysol and others, was a star who won the MVP award in 2011.
His younger brother, Kleiton Domingues, who was also a professional soccer player, appeared on the Brazilian soccer program "Resenha do Leão 1899."
In an interview released about a year ago, he spoke about his brother's final days before his passing, his battle with illness, and their family.
What was revealed there was not just the image of "Leandro Domingues" the soccer player, but also that of a brother, a son, and a father of three children.
"He was conscious even on the day he passed away"
Leandro Domingues spent his time at home until just before he passed away.
His physical condition had already deteriorated; there were days when he could eat and days when he could hardly eat anything.
A few days before he died, his condition worsened to the point where he vomited throughout the night. The next morning, Kleiton took him to the hospital.
"I put him in the back seat and headed to the hospital. My brother was conscious, but he was not in good condition."
Kleiton, who was driving, rushed to the hospital while feeling anxious that his brother's condition might worsen further on the way.
Although he was temporarily relieved to have arrived safely, it was difficult to sufficiently suppress the vomiting and pain even with medication.
The doctor had already informed them that there were no more treatments available and that it would be palliative care to alleviate his suffering.
On the day he passed away, Kleiton had a video call for about 30 minutes with his mother, who was attending to him in the hospital room.
When his mother pointed the smartphone toward Leandro Domingues, he was able to look at the camera, but it was already difficult for him to have a natural conversation.
His body was so weak that it was difficult for him to even change his position on the bed by himself.
Overcoming a transplant: "He was truly a warrior"
The word Kleiton repeatedly used in the interview to describe his brother Leandro was "warrior."
Leandro Domingues aimed to become a professional soccer player from a young age and left home at the age of 11. Life at that time was by no means privileged.
Kleiton recalled:
"There were times when we drank water just to feel full and go to sleep. Even so, he didn't complain to the family. It was because we wanted to become soccer players."
From there, Leandro entered the professional world and was active not only in Brazil but also in Japan.
Even after becoming ill, that attitude did not change.
During his battle with the illness, he also underwent a transplant surgery.
At that time, his life was in danger, but he overcame it and was discharged from the hospital. After that, he worked on rehabilitation and at one point recovered to the point where he could lead a certain level of daily life again.
Upon his discharge, the doctor told him, considering he had overcome life-threatening crises many times, "You could celebrate your birthday three times."
Reflecting on his brother's battle, Kleiton said:
"He was literally a warrior. He was like that in life, and he was a person who fought against his illness until the very end, to the limit."
The mother who supported him since his time in Japan
The person who supported Leandro Domingues' life during his illness right by his side was his mother.
According to Kleiton, their mother was someone who would rush to her sons' side regardless of the location if anything happened to them.
That did not change even during the era when Leandro was playing in Japan.
"Even when he was in Japan, if anything happened, she would get on a plane alone and go to Japan, even though she couldn't speak the language."
One of Leandro Domingues' children was reportedly born in Japan.
To support her son and his family living in a foreign country, the mother would rush to them regardless of the distance if anything happened.
She continued to attend to Leandro even after he became ill and spent several days at the hospital during his transplant surgery.
While his wife had to raise three children and lead a daily life, such as picking them up and dropping them off at school, the mother often supported Leandro by his side.
Kleiton reflected:
"My mother was literally acting like a nurse while being a mother."
From his playing days in Japan to his battle with illness, his mother had continued to support Leandro Domingues for many years.
"Where is Daddy?"
The interview also touched upon Leandro Domingues' three children. In particular, the younger two were only 6 and 10 years old when their father passed away.
After taking Leandro to the hospital and returning home, his 6-year-old daughter asked Kleiton:
"Where is Daddy?"
When he explained that her father was in the hospital, she asked:
"Why did you leave Daddy there?"
It was difficult to explain her father's condition as it was to such a young child.
Therefore, Kleiton explained that her father was in the hospital to get better using medicine that is good for the body.
However, Leandro Domingues never returned home after that.
After Leandro passed away, when his mother, who had been attending to him at the hospital, returned home alone, the children asked:
"Grandma, where is Daddy?"
The mother could not answer anything, went into her room, and shed tears alone.
Later, Leandro's wife told the children that their father would not be coming back anymore.
The son who was his father's "partner"
Kleiton also reflected on the relationship between the children and Leandro Domingues.
The son, who was 10 years old at the time, originally liked spending time at home, and when Leandro was recuperating at home, he spent a lot of time by his father's side.
Even when the family went out, the son would stay at home and spend a lot of time by his recuperating father's side.
Because of that, it was not easy to accept that his father would not be coming back. Kleiton also spoke about the difficulty of explaining the parting with their father to young children.
At the funeral, the daughter, who was 6 years old at the time, also had her final meeting with her father.
After kissing Leandro's forehead, the daughter reportedly hugged Kleiton tightly.
Regarding that moment, Kleiton reflected:
"I think that hug was actually one she wanted to give to her father. But she can't do that anymore."
Even for adults, it is not easy to accept losing a family member.
Kleiton said it was even more difficult to explain to young children that they could no longer see their father.
Singing "Espírito Santo" at the funeral
At the end of the interview, Kleiton reflected on Leandro Domingues' funeral.
There, he spoke about his brother not just as a soccer player, but as a human being and a father.
Singing "Espírito Santo" at the funeral
At the end of the interview, Kleiton also reflected on Leandro's funeral.
At the funeral, he reportedly left words about Leandro not just as a soccer player, but as a human being and a father.
And finally, he sang a song of praise called "Espírito Santo."
Please deliver to God the thoughts that I cannot put into words well myself.
Please help me in my weakness.
Please intercede for me, who doesn't know how to pray—.
It was a song with such content, and Kleiton reflected while remembering the lyrics:
"At that time, it was exactly what was in my heart."
And when the program performers offered words to the family, he said:
"We believe in God. The rest is time. I think the wounds will heal little by little. But I don't think the loneliness or the memories will ever go away."
Leandro Domingues played for a long time in Japan, including for Kashiwa Reysol, and remained in the memories of many supporters.
In the interview released about a year ago, what Kleiton spoke about was not just the image of the soccer player who wore the number 10 and shone on the pitch.
It was the image of Leandro Domingues as a brother, a son, and a father of three children who faced his illness until the end.
Even during his playing days in Japan, his mother reportedly rushed to Japan alone to support her son, despite the language barrier.
For those who have seen Leandro Domingues' play in the J-League, this interview allows them to know another aspect of his life.
We would like to express our condolences once again to Leandro Domingues, who fascinated many supporters in Japan.
This article is translated and composed in Japanese based on an interview with Kleiton Domingues released about a year ago on Brazil's "[Resenha do Leão 1899](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZfKSGJTniE)".
