Cristiano Junior was a Brazilian football player born in 1978. He playing in India's National Football League for Goan outfit Dempo Sports Club at the time of his untimely death on the field on the 5th of December 2004. He had only recently moved there on a transfer from Kolkata's East Bengal where he had formed a lethal strike partnership with India's ace footballer Bhaichung Bhutia in helping his team to the league title in the 2003-2004 season. Junior was fatally fouled by Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Subrata Paul in the final of the annual Federation Cup tournament.The foul was uncalled for as Junior had scored the goal before the keeper attempted to tackle. His death raised serious questions about discipline in Indian football and of the quality of sports medicine available in India. The ambulance in which Junior was rushed to hospital reportedly did not even have oxygen cylinders. The post-mortem, however, said that Junior had died of a cardiac arrest.