Fernandao, a one-time Brazil international, has been confirmed as one of five people that lost their lives in a helicopter crash last night.

The rotorcraft went down in the Aruana province, which is located in central Brazil, with nobody on board surviving.

Thirty-six-year-old Fernandao, who was believed to be making a business trip, spent three years of his playing career in France with Marseille and Toulouse, before going on to captain Internacional to their first Copa Libertadores title in 2006.

Upon being informed of the striker's death, Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff tweeted: "Fernandao will be missed. A club world champion on the pitch, Fernandao was an example of character off the pitch."

Fernandao's solitary appearance for the five-time champions of the world came back in 2005 against Guatemala.