SP. The 15 best Brazilian players right now have been ranked ahead of Copa America

Brazil is arguably the most football-obsessed nation on earth. While financial, infrastructural, and environmental factors prevent the widespread participation of 11-a-side amateur football up and down South America’s most populated nation, Brazilian natives are forced to find creative ways to enjoy the beautiful game.

The Selecao have won the FIFA World Cup on five occasions – more than any other nation – and has developed a plethora of world-class talents who’ve dominated the South American, European, and the international game across history, including the legendary Pele, the step-over king Ronaldo Nazario, and the former Ballon d’Or winner Kaka.

Despite not winning a World Cup since 2002, there’s no shortage of current superstars in the Brazilian national team as head coach Dorival Junior looks to inspire his side to glory, in 2026, at the impending North American-based iteration. To do that, he’ll need to rely on many of the players in the list below.

Ranking factors

• Current form
• Career reputation
• Goals
• Assists
• Technical brilliance

15 Douglas Luiz | Juventus

Struggled to hit Aston Villa heights in Italy

Central midfielder Douglas Luiz enjoyed a remarkable season with Aston Villa in 2023/24, anchoring Unai Emery’s squad with skill and purpose as the midlands club qualified for the Champions League for the first time. Luiz was bought by Manchester City from Vasco de Gama before making the switch to Villa Park in 2019, where he has been a model of consistency over the last four years.

His performances haven’t gone unnoticed by the national team as he made Brazil’s Copa America 2024 squad, and clubs around Europe too, attracting interest from the likes of Juventus before moving to the Old Lady for a deal in the summer. Playing time has been somewhat scarce in Turin, though, with Luiz enjoying just 312 minutes of action across all competitions.

14 Gabriel Martinelli | Arsenal

Martinelli’s electric pace is devastating when he’s at the races

It can be easy to forget that Gabriel Martinelli, who already has 43 Arsenal goals to his name in all competitions, is still only 23. The Brazil and Gunners forwards’ electric pace, strength, and ruthless ability inside the opposition’s penalty box has made him one of the most feared attackers in the league.

Martinelli, whose direct approach feels slightly reminiscent of a young Cristiano Ronaldo, feels destined for a long career at the top level. Bizarrely, the young forward hasn’t had a sustained run of games for the national team yet; but a call-up to the national team for Copa America and a goal in the warm-up game against Mexico gave the winger a chance to showcase his talents once more.

13 Savinho | Manchester City

Added a different dimension to Pep Guardiola’s side

Upon putting pen to paper on a Manchester City contract in the summer, many feared that Pep Guardiola would suck the life and joy out of Savinho’s play – which comprises flicks, tricks and an undeniable level of skill. That is yet to be the case, however, with the 20-year-old proving what he is capable of in one of Europe’s most-documented divisions.

Playing time may have been hard to come by given the barrage of talent at Guardiola’s disposal, but the nine-cap Brazil international – who has notched five assists in 14 games for his Premier League employers – has every chance to become a key man in their immediate future. As he does on the international stage.

12 Endrick | Real Madrid

The teenage sensation tipped for legend status

Much is still being learned about the most exciting teenage talent coming out of Brazil, Endrick. The striker’s posture, physical appearance, and eye for goal have drawn comparisons to none other than the country’s legendary goalscorer, Pele. Those are some big shoes to fill. So far, Endrick, who has been tipped for greatness since his early teens, has made – despite a lack of minutes – a seamless transition into men’s professional football.

The striker recorded an impressive three goals in his opening six Brazil appearances – but has failed to notch one since – while he also made the move to Spanish giants Real Madrid late in the summer. Whether or not Endrick is a player who will go down in the legend books remains to be seen, but Brazilian natives have incredibly high expectations of the 17-year-old starlet.

11 Bruno Guimaraes | Newcastle United

Key player for the Magpies

Bruno Guimaraes has been among the top performing midfielders in the Premier League over the last couple of seasons. Newcastle United’s man has great positional awareness, is strong defensively and accomplished on the ball, which is why Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was so desperate to add the Brazilian to his midfield for the 2024/2025 season.

He remained on Tyneside, however, and has continued to prove why a litany of Premier League clubs are sniffing around his signature amid his employers’ PSR concerns. Particularly across the year of 2024, Guimaraes has established himself as Brazil’s predominant holding midfielder and the 26-year-old is considered one of the hottest prospects in world football.

10 Marquinhos | Paris Saint-Germain

PSG man capped 93 times by Selecao

Marquinhos has been an absolute rock at the back for Brazil ever since making his debut back in November 2013 under the iconic Luiz Felipe Scolari. The centre-back helped Selecao win the Copa America in 2019 and bagged an Olympic gold medal when his country hosted the competition in Rio back in 2016.

Marquinhos embodies the modern defender; he’s physically strong, intelligent, and more than comfortable stepping out of defence with the ball to start attacks in the opposition’s half. For his club, PSG, he has made more than 459 appearances since moving from Roma in 2013 and is now captain of the Parisians.

9 Eder Militao | Real Madrid

The 26-year-old has already won the Champions League twice

Though Eder Militao endured an injury-riddle campaign in 2023/24, the Brazilian centre-back is still among the nation’s very best footballing talents. The former Sao Paulo and Porto defender signed for Real Madrid in 2019 for a fee of £42 million and has already gone on to become one of his generation’s most successful players with 35 Brazil appearances already on his ever-flourishing CV.

Sertaozinho-born Militao has played pivotal roles in the three La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies Real Madrid have won since his 2019 signing and has been Brazil’s first-choice centre-back when not battling injury, thanks to his imposing presence, brilliant anticipation and willingness to win possession of the ball by any means possible.

8 Ederson | Manchester City

The ball-playing goalkeeper has had an incredible career

Goalkeepers haven’t always been allowed to play with the creativity and freedom synonymous with Brazilian outfield players. But as more emphasis has been placed on the goalkeeper’s involvement in build-up play in recent years, it’s no surprise to see a Brazilian among the very best at distributing the ball through opposition forward lines into midfield.

Ederson’s composure, passing, and, let’s not forget, elite shot-stopping skills have been pivotal in the six Premier League titles Manchester City have won since the Brazilian signed for Pep Guardiola’s side back in 2017, but he has often been overshadowed by his Liverpool counterpart, Alisson Becker. Don’t get us wrong, though – there is no doubting the former Benfica’s place on this list.

7 Gleison Bremer | Juventus

The centre-back is one of the best in the business

Gleison Bremer, 27, only made his international debut in 2022, having spent much of his early career going unnoticed in the Serie A with Torino. However, since the defender’s summer 2021 move to Juventus, many in the football world have begun to take notice of Bremer, who is considered among Manchester United’s top transfer targets to rebuild their leaky defence.

Bremer, a late bloomer on the world stage, is sure to keep building on his already strong reputation in the coming years. A stalwart in the heart of the Old Lady’s back line until he picked up a long-term injury, the 27-year-old will be keen to return to action as fruitful as ever.

6 Gabriel Magalhaes | Arsenal

Arsenal’s rock at the back is growing from strength to strength

When a player of Gabriel’s impeccable standards are underrated from an international experience – as evidenced by his paltry 11 appearances for the Selecao, you know you’re dealing with one of the elite football nations. Gabriel has partnered French defender, William Saliba, in a simply outstanding Arsenal defence over the past couple of seasons.

The Brazilian behemoth has achieved an impressive 50 Premier League clean sheets in 142 appearances for the north London club and is pushing Brazil’s elite centre-backs for a regular spot in the national team. Whether his imperious form for club can convince his nation’s higher-ups remains to be seen but it remains a sorry sight for one of the best centre-backs in the English top flight.

5 Neymar Jr | Al-Hilal

Superstar’s recent years hampered by injury

Neymar was not one of the top-performing Brazilians during the 2023/2024 season. The era-defining winger disappointed some of his supporters by opting for an early move away from elite-level football, to join Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal. But there are few, or perhaps only Argentina’s Lionel Messi, active footballers who are capable of manipulating defenders, controlling the ball, and producing moments of wonder in the way that Neymar is capable of.

Although the winger is likely to retire with just a single Champions League medal and hasn’t been able to deliver the World Cup back to his expectant national team fans, there are only a handful of players more technically brilliant than Neymar to ever play the beautiful game. Injuries have, unfortunately, hampered the twilight period of his illustrious career.

4 Rodrygo | Real Madrid

Often overshadowed by Los Blancos’ array of stars

Despite his tender age, Rodrygo, 23, has been playing with the weight of Real Madrid supporter expectations on his shoulders for years. The winger signed for the 15-time Champions League winners in 2019, after completing a £40 million move from his home club, Santos.

Rodrygo has consistently performed at elite standards demanded at the Bernabeu and the pacey Brazilian winger already has two Champions League titles to his name. With Real Madrid’s recent signings of Kylian Mbappe and Brazil teammate, Endrick, likely to start in the Spanish club’s front line next season, speculation is growing that Rodrygo could make the move to one of the Premier League’s elite clubs this summer.

3 Raphinha | Barcelona

Former Leeds man is currently in scintilating form

Few players make the leap from the now-Championship club, Leeds United, to one of the world’s most prestigious clubs, Barcelona, but that’s exactly what Raphinha did in the summer of 2022. The forward produced a goal contribution every 67 minutes during Barcelona’s Champions League campaign last season, alerting the interest of Newcastle United and Arsenal.

There was once a time when Raphinha had question marks over his future at the club, but he now remains Brazil’s preferred choice on the right-hand side after an explosive start to Barcelona’s 2024/25 campaign. In fact, he has scored 12 goals and notched a further 10 assists in 16 appearances across all competitions at the time of writing, making him one of Europe’s most in-form players.

2 Alisson Becker | Liverpool

Reds’ reliable shot-stopper remains one of the best in the world

There have been few better goalkeepers in world football than Alisson Becker over the last 10 years. The stopper, who signed for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp in 2018, was described as “the one who made everything possible” by former assistant coach, Pep Lijnders.

During the 271 competitive games Alisson has played for the Anfield club, the keeper has kept an incredible 119 clean sheets and saved Liverpool’s blushes on countless occasions. The 32-year-old’s goalkeeping competence can be highlighted further by learning Alisson has made 71 caps for Brazil’s national team, despite having to fight for a place in the team with world-class Manchester City rival, Ederson.

1 Vinicius Jr | Real Madrid

Came second in the 2024 Ballon d’Or

While Vinicius Jr. has been regarded as one of the best talents on the planet for several years now, Real Madrid’s electric winger took his game up to another level during the 2023-24 season and was among the favourites to be awarded the prestigious Ballon d’Or trophy at the end of the year. He finished second behind Manchester City and Spain star Rodri – but don’t let that cloud your judgement.

The Brazilian megastar has ridiculous pace; the winger slows down as he approaches a defender before coming into life and accelerating past the opposition player, who often remains rooted to the spot. The winger is clinical in front of goal, having notched 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 games last term as Real Madrid went on to win a La Liga and Champions League double.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt – correct as of 07/11/24.