Brazilian footballer takes penalty kick in front of machine gun-toting fan

A Brazilian football player faced the most intense high-pressure penalty kick of his life as a fan stood behind him in anticipation, holding an AK-47.

The high-stake goal happened during a game in a 'favela' - a low-income urban settlement in Rio de Janeiro.

The footage recorded by a spectator showed a bare-chested fan enter the scene holding his machine gun while people crowded around the goal in anticipation.

As the referee tried to organise the area the fan took his spot behind the penalty taker, ready to fire.

With barley enough room for a run up, the nervous blue shirted No. 8 approached his spot, trying not to imagine what could happen if he missed.

At the other end the anxious goalkeeper seemed to make no real attempt in stopping the ball as the penalty kick scored in the right corner of the goal.

Dozens of people erupted in cheers and the fan fired his machine gun to the sky multiple times in celebration.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.