The horrified wife of Joao Rodrigo Silva Santos, 35, made the gruesome discovery as she left the house in Rio de Janeiro for work early yesterday morning.
The player's eyes and tongue had been cut out and his head placed inside one of his own rucksacks, police said.
Mr Santos retired from football two years ago after a successful career playing for several teams in Rio de Janeiro, as well as for clubs in Sweden and Honduras.
He had recently set up his own business selling health foods and dietary supplements.
Police said today that Mr Santos is believed to have been snatched as he closed up his shop late on Monday night.
Witnesses said they saw several men bundling him into his car, a Hyundai i30, and speeding off just before midnight, a spokesman said.
Mr Santos' brother-in-law, who didn't want to be named, told Brazil's Globo G1 website that the player's wife, Geisa Silva, 31, stayed up all night after her husband failed to arrive home.
He said: "Every time a car passed by she would go to see.
"She was getting ready to go to work at around 5.30am when she heard a noise, opened the front door and saw his rucksack. When she opened it, it was his head.
This is sad,.. Not even shooting, beheading? Wonder what he did and who he offended
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