Brazil icon Zico is 'robbed in Paris' as briefcase containing £420,000 worth of items are 'stolen from taxi'... after Javier Mascherano previously claimed thieves targeted Argentina's Olympic base

Brazil football legend Zico has been robbed in France ahead of the Paris Olympics grand opening after his briefcase containing a reported £420,000 worth of jewels and bank notes was stolen,according to reports.

France is set to officially mark the opening of the Games on Friday evening and are already having their security status tested after Zico was robbed while traveling in a taxi.

The 71-year-old had travelled to France to watch the Olympics get underway and is now the alleged victim of a frightening ordeal that has seen him suffer a huge financial loss.

Zico left his hotel in Paris and was traveling with a briefcase containing a diamond necklace,cash and a high-end luxury Rolex watch,as reported by Le Parisien.

It was during the taxi journey that it is reported his vehicle was approached by one individual tasked with distracting the driver while another approached the rear of the car.

Zico managed a host of top European clubs following his retirement from playing

Zico faced a different danger after he was the reported victim of a targeted attack that resulted in his briefcase being taken in a highly unusual incident.

The veteran is a legend in Brazilian football where he earned iconic status at Flamengo during an astonishing period of success in the club's history.

He spent the majority of his career at one of the nation's most prestigious teams,winning several top titles including four Brazilian top-flight championships and the Intercontinental Cup where Flamengo beat Liverpool 3-0.

He later moved to Italy and starred for Udinese before later finishing his playing career in Japan and moving into management where he coached a host of top European sides.

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