'It's better if they think I'm dead!' - Former Corinthians and Vasco striker Regis Pitbull living on the streets amid severe crack addiction

Striker battles street homelessness

Former Ponte Preta, Corinthians, and Vasco forward Regis is currently living rough on the streets and alleyways of Pirituba, in the northern zone of Sao Paulo, as reported by Globo Esporte journalist Emilio Botta. The 49-year-old takes shelter beneath tarpaulins, worn blankets, and cardboard in a small square surrounded by rubble and accumulated waste. A devastating battle with crack cocaine addiction has cost him his home, his dignity, and nearly all support from family and friends.

Heartbreaking despair laid bare

Reflecting on his tragic decline in a conversation with Botta, the former forward laid bare his overwhelming anguish as he stated: "It's better if they think I'm dead... I don't want anyone to know I exist."

Alarm over his circumstances initially spread after former team-mates from an amateur side raised concerns about his deteriorating health. His struggles with substance dependency trace back to his playing career, having twice tested positive for cannabis in routine anti-doping controls.

Addiction derails journeyman career

The forward recorded 49 goals in 170 competitive appearances throughout his nomadic playing career, which included teams like Coritiba, Bahia, Portuguesa, and stints in Japan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. However, illicit drugs steadily eroded control over his personal life following his retirement from professional football. Legal troubles worsened his situation after a 2025 arrest for assaulting a building manager, which resulted in him being forced out of his own apartment.

Legal battles cloud future

Regis's sole remaining apartment is now subject to civil proceedings over mounting debts from unpaid condominium fees and property taxes. Despite the imminent threat of judicial foreclosure, Globo Esporte reported that he still retains hope of one day returning to the property.