Socceroos fan killed in crash after watching World Cup match at Melbourne’s Federation Square

A teenager killed in a devastating Melbourne car crash on Saturday has been remembered as a kind and generous young soccer fan.

Cesare Liberatore, 18, was in a car crash on the way home from Federation Square, where he and his friends had been watching the Socceroos play the US in the World Cup.

They had just dropped one friend off at home and were heading south on Mickleham Rd at Attawood, when the P-plate driver lost control of the Mitsubishi Triton he was driving and careened over a median strip into oncoming traffic about 7am.

The Mitsubishi was T-boned, and all three teens inside the ute suffered serious and life-threatening injuries.

Liberatore died of his injuries shortly after in hospital.

The Football Supporters Association Australia “extended heartfelt sympathies” for the young soccer supporter, as did Liberatore’s own former club which observed a minute of silence in his honour.

“Although Cesare’s time with the club was short, it will always be remembered. His passion, friendship, and love for the game will remain a part of our community,” Greenvale United Soccer Club said.

“Once a part of our club, always a part of our family.”

Liberatore’s friends have also paid tribute to the young man, delivering flowers both to his family’s home, and to the crash site.

“All day they’ve knocked on the door – boys sobbing with flowers in their hands,” his grandmother Mary Liberatore told the Herald Sun. “You can tell the measure of a person by the company that they keep. These kids – every one of them – are just beautiful.”

A tribute for the young man was also shared in a fundraiser to support Liberatore’s grieving family.

“Some people leave a lasting mark on everyone they meet, and Cesare Liberatore was one of those people,” the messaged reads.

“He was known for his kind heart, infectious smile, and the way he could make anyone feel welcome.

“Whether it was through his sense of humour, his generosity, or simply being there for the people he cared about, Cesare brought light into the lives of so many.

“His kindness, laughter, and the joy he brought to those around him will never be forgotten, and his memory will live on in the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”