Hulk's sister goes missing in Brazil

The younger sister of Brazil international striker Hulk is feared to have been kidnapped after going missing in the northeastern Brazilian city of Campina Grande, local police said yesterday.

Angelica Aparecida Vieira de Sousa was forced out of her car outside a restaurant around 2pm yesterday and driven away in another vehicle, O Globo reported.

The 22-year-old is understood to have been accompanied by the restaurant's manager, Helio Pereira da Silva, who had momentarily left Vieira waiting alone.

Pereira, who told police he believed Vieira had been abducted, suffered shock and was taken to hospital for observation before being released.

A police spokeswoman said it was too early to confirm that Vieira had been kidnapped despite reports in Brazil's media.

Hulk, 26, currently plays with Russian side Zenit St Petersburg after being signed from Porto in September for US$63 million.

O Globo reported Hulk had been informed of the news and was in constant contact with the family by telephone.

High-profile kidnappings for ransom are not uncommon in Brazil.

Earlier this year, Chile international midfielder Jorge Valdivia and his wife were abducted and robbed in Sao Paulo before being released three hours later.