1st11 Brazilian wonder kids to watch out for in 2021

Brazil has provided us with some of the most exciting talents the World has ever seen for generations, and this current crop of young players are no exception. If you are a football club looking for the next big star in modern day football, you are almost guaranteed to find a few gems if you were to set up a scouting network in Brazil. 

There was a time where we would have to wait for the World Cup to catch a glimpse of the best talent Brazil had to offer. But more recently, clubs are choosing to send their scouts in search of wonderkids that are already good enough to set the World stage alight. A perfect example of this was Neymar’s big move from Santos to Barcelona in 2013, at the tender age of 21. Since then, all the top teams have had an eye on Brazilian football in the search of the next Neymar Jr.

In this article, we will be taking a deep dive into the top 11 up and coming Brazilian wonderkids that have the potential to be superstars, whilst having a look at what their FUT cards look/will look like. The criteria for this list are: 

• Brazilian  
• 22 years of age or younger (at the time of writing this article).

Brazil are known to produce top quality left backs. Roberto Carlos transformed the role of a left back and since then, plenty of Brazilians have attempted to use that same blueprint. Marcelo, Alex Sandro and Felipe Luis to name a few, however Renan Lodi looks like he may be next to carry that mantle. The 22 year old got his big move from Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense to the Spanish powerhouse, Atletico Madrid. 

Renan Lodi has continued to shine in Europe and even managed to make his debut for the Brazilian nation team last October. It is no wonder he has been recognised in FIFA 20 as a future star.

The Gremio midfielder is said to be the heir to throne that Arthur vacated after his big move to Barcelona. And it seems as though Matheus Henrique has already started to turn the heads of many top clubs in Europe. The tidy technician is a ball playing defensive midfielder, who possesses the ability to control and dictate the tempo of a game. 

His play style suits European football, but with the added Brazilian flair, he is another player that we’ll definitely need to look out for in years to come. It is also rumoured Manchester City may be looking at him as a possible replacement for Fernandinho, so his potential is not going unnoticed. Additionally, based on the FIFA 20 meta, this is the type of card players would have enjoyed in this year’s Ultimate team had he been available. 

The youngster has been dubbed the “Brazilian Pogba” by many Gremio fans. Furthermore, after watching the midfielder in action, the comparisons seem justifiable. Jean Pyerre is over 6 feet tall, with long reaching legs, close control dribbling, a good passing range and an eye for goal from distance. 

If Jean Pyerre is able to combine his natural talent with hard work and consistency, he will certainly be one to watch out for in the future. The youngster was not in this year’s FIFA, but if he does end up securing a move to Europe, his card could be a more affordable alternative to Pogba in FUT.

Talles Magno is the youngest player on the list. Despite this he is arguably one of the most exciting prospects. The forwards ability has already won over Vasco fans, as they have quickly realised that they possess one of the future stars of Brazilian football. Unfortunately for them, Premier League champions Liverpool have also noticed the player’s potential, and if rumours are believed to be true, they may be making an offer for the Vasco wonderkid sooner rather than later.

Whether EA decide to gain licensing to use Brazilian leagues in FIFA, or Magno completes a transfer to a European side, I am sure his card will be present in FUT one day. He will most likely have a silver base card with 5* skill moves, but if he received a future stars, a player with his attributes would certainly be fun to use!

Anthony is a tricky winger who enjoys terrorising opposing full backs with his lighting pace and silky skills. Whilst Anthony’s potential is huge, there is still plenty of room for improvement, such as his end product and use of his weaker (right) foot. The ex Sao Paulo younger managed to secure a move to Ajax, which is a team known for developing countless stars.

We have seen this move before from Ajax, with their pursuit of David Neres from Sao Paulo. It looks like Anthony is following in his fellow countryman’s footsteps. Anthony is yet to appear for Ajax due to the Covid-19 outbreak halting football just after his transfer was completed. However, based on what we have witnessed him do at Sao Paulo, given the opportunity, this wonderkid will be giving fullbacks nightmares in the Eredivisie next season, and if so, he will surely be present in the future stars promo in FUT 21.

Paulinho joined Bayer Leverkusen from Vasco for roughly £14 million two summers ago. Despite being one of the most exciting wonderkids in Brazil whilst at Vasco, he has struggled for game time ever since. Nonetheless, his potential is still very noticeable from his brief cameo appearances for Leverkusen. Rest assured, if Paulinho is given more game time in the upcoming season, I have no doubt that he will prove to be a valuable investment for the German side. 

This potential has also been recognised in FIFA 20’s Ultimate team as he was recently the first to be given a Silver Star, Summer Heat promo card with incredible stats. It will be interesting to see what his FUT card looks like a few years from now.

The former Flamengo forward made his senior debut for the Brazilian champions a year ago and has never looked back since. Half a year later and he finds himself wearing the famous white of Real Madrid. Much like his fellow countryman Vinicius Jr, Reinier made the same switch from Flamengo to Madrid. Similarly to Vinicius, Reinier started his career in Madrid playing for the B team, and even managed to score before football was paused. 

Reinier Jesus will be hoping to soon breakthrough into the first team this season. With the likes of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo already in the first team, the prospect of the linkup between these Brazilian wonderkids should have many Real Madrid fans thrilled for the future. This is something that may also excite FUT players, as the 3 will form perfect chemistry green links.

Slowly but surely, Pedrinho has managed to establish himself as a key player for Corinthians at the age of 22. After he made his breakthrough in the 2016/17 season, Pedrinho has been flying ever since. His quick feet and eye for goal makes him a big threat in the final third for opposition defenders. 

If Pedrinho is able to live up to his potential, it is very possible we will be seeing him terrorising defenders on the biggest stages both on the pitch and in the game. FIFA Ultimate team players have always favoured fast and skilful players, and Pedrinho fits that meta perfectly.

After securing a big move to Arsenal last summer, many were unsure about what the young Brazilian would bring to the table. However, Martinelli was quick to show everyone his star quality with his direct approach and hunger for goals. 

Martinelli was awarded a high rated future stars card in this years FIFA Ultimate team. With the uncertainty regarding Aubameyang’s future, Martinelli may be getting a lot more chances to play in the 2020/21 season. If his previous performances are anything to go by, we may need to get used to seeing Martinelli in FUT players squads.

The last time Santos produced an exciting young talent that played on the wing, his name was Neymar Jr, so it is no wonder Rodrygo caught the attention of many big teams around the world.  With a hefty price tag rumoured to be around £40M, and a debut goal within a minute of entering the field of play, Rodrygo’s light was shining bright. If that wasn’t enough, two months later he scored a perfect hat-trick in the Champions league aged 18. Making him the first player born in the 21st century to score in the UCL, and the second youngest player to score a hat-trick in this competition.

It looks like Rodrygo is set to be a star for club and country. His potential was illustrated in this years FIFA as he received one of the highest rated cards in the Future Stars FUT promo.

Vinicius Jr first started to shine in his debut season for Flamengo. With his pace and trickery from the wing, it is no wonder Vinicius was already being compared to Brazil’s star man, Neymar. After getting his big move to Real Madrid, Vinicius hit the ground running with impressive cameo appearances that would soon see him earn a spot in the starting line-up. Although an injury cut his first season short, it seems as though he is picking up exactly where he left off and is looking more exciting than ever. 

Like many young players, end product was the only question mark when it came to the flying winger, however he has seemingly built up a good understanding with Benzema, and is racking up the assists, as well as getting on the scoresheet. Vinicius is top of this list for a reason. Most definitely a future World Beater who is sure to have a FUT card that becomes more and more deadly for game cycles to come.

And there we have it! That is my list of the top 11 players I believe have the talent to make it all the way to the top. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that hard work and sacrifice are key ingredient because whilst we have been gifted with the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, we also have players like Ravel Morrison and Adel Taarabt who up until now, have not reached the level their talent promised.