Everton Kempes dos Santos Gonçalves — Brazilian forward and Chapecoense player

Early life and club career

Kempes made his senior debut in 2004 with Paraná, beginning a career that saw him move through several Brazilian clubs and competitions. Over more than a decade he played in the Campeonato Brasileiro and various regional championships, serving as a forward whose responsibilities included scoring and helping to lead attacking moves. He joined Associação Chapecoense de Futebol later in his career and was part of the squad that travelled to Colombia for an international fixture in 2016.

Name and identity

His popular footballing name, Kempes, was a tribute to the Argentine striker Mario Kempes, reflecting the admiration for the World Cup–winning forward. That connection is preserved in how teammates, fans and media commonly referred to Everton Kempes throughout his career and in posthumous remembrances. Basic descriptions of his profession often identify him simply as a forward or striker, terms used interchangeably in many reports.

2016 air disaster and legacy

On 28 November 2016, the charter flight carrying the Chapecoense squad to a continental final crashed near La Unión, Antioquia, killing a large number of players, staff and journalists. Kempes was among those who died. The accident provoked major international mourning, tributes from clubs and governing bodies, and administrative actions in South American football. In the weeks that followed, CONMEBOL and other organizations recognized Chapecoense's achievements in solidarity with the victims and survivors.

Significance and remembrance

• Role: professional forward in Brazilian domestic football and international club competitions.
• Notability: part of the Chapecoense squad at the time of the 2016 tragedy.
• Name origin: homage to Mario Kempes, the Argentine striker.

Everton Kempes is remembered by supporters and peers for his commitment on the pitch and as one of the players whose deaths highlighted the fragility of life in sport. Memorials and retrospectives continue to reflect on his career and the broader impact of the Chapecoense disaster on football communities worldwide.