DONETSK, Ukraine (AFP) - Brazilian striker Maicon Pereira, currently playing on loan at Ukrainian league side Mariupol, has died in a car crash, local media reported on Saturday.

The R-Sport news agency reported that Maicon, who joined Ukraine champions Shakhtar Donetsk in 2012, died in an accident, which happened in Donetsk early on Saturday.

"It's a terrible and heavy loss for all of us. He will remain a man of blessed memory for all of us," Shakhtar said in a statement on the club's official website.

Maicon joined Shakhtar in 2012 in a transfer move from Volyn Lutsk but failed to win a place in the starting lineup.

He subsequently went out on loan to Zorya Lugansk and Mariupol, with whom he played 13 matches and scored three goals this season.