Footballer Xaxá dies at age 74

Former Brazilian footballer Maximiliano Rodrigues Lopes, known as Xaxá, has died at the age of 74. He was a resident of Guarujá on the coast of São Paulo. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Xaxá was a prominent figure in Brazilian football, most notably playing as a right winger for Portuguesa de Desportos between 1970 and 1976. During this period, he was part of the squad that won the 1973 Campeonato Paulista, a title that was famously shared with Santos due to a refereeing error during penalty kicks.

His career also included stints with Vasco da Gama, where he was part of the squad that finished as runners-up in the 1979 Brazilian championship. He played for several other clubs, including Corinthians, São Paulo, Londrina, Juventus, Uberlândia, and União Rondonópolis. After retiring in 1980, he worked as a football commentator and a youth coach.