Young Portuguese Bullfighting Forçado Dies After Injury
The Portuguese bullfighting community is in mourning following the death of 22-year-old Manuel Trindade. Trindade passed away in Lisbon after sustaining a severe head injury during a bullfight at the Campo Pequeno arena last Friday.
The incident occurred as Trindade attempted a pega - a traditional maneuver – on a 695-kilogram bull. Video footage captured the moment he was thrown against the arena’s barriers, impacting his head.
Trindade was promptly attended to by medical personnel at the arena before being transported to San José Hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit with severe brain injuries. Despite initial hopes for neurological surgery, cerebral inflammation prevented intervention, and he later succumbed to his injuries.
Originally from Évora, Trindade was a member of the forcados group of São Manços and had a prosperous record of pega performances across Portugal. He had specifically requested to perform the pega on the first bull of the night, a visita, due to his experience and perceived safety in the arena.
João Fortunato, the cabo (leader) of the group, had agreed to allow Trindade to face the first bull. Following the tragedy, his teammates expressed their grief on social media, stating, “We lost a great partner, but also a young man with a huge vocation. His memory will always remain among us.”
What is a Forçado?
Portuguese bullfighting differs from other forms of the sport in that the bull is not killed in the arena. Instead, forcados – groups of skilled bullfighters – confront the bull without using a cape or sword, relying on their physical strength and coordinated teamwork to execute the pega. This tradition, dating back to the 18th century, is considered one of the most challenging and dangerous aspects of the taurine world.
