Scorer for Brasileirao, Paulinho received his first call-up to join Brazil’s senior team. “I had dreamed of this moment all my life,” he said, after coach Fernando Diniz named him on the list for the double qualifying round that includes the great South American classic. “It is always very exciting to play against Argentina,” he said ahead of the duel.
The Atlético Mineiro forward, 23 years old, is called to be part of Brazil’s renewal, in a position where there are plenty of names and many of them young people such as Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Matheus Cunha, Joao Pedro and Endrick. But the 17 goals in the current season of the Brazilian tournament are enough arguments to allow him to fight for a place.
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“I had dreamed of this moment all my life, and when I heard my name it was hard to believe. It took me a while to compose myself, but then I thought: ‘Well, now I have to go and prove my worth so that they continue to call me up,’” she said in an interview with the FIFA portal.
“The match against Argentina will be very special,” said Paulinho.
Brazil will play on the 16th against Colombia in Barranquilla and five days later they will host Argentina, current champion of the World Cup and of America. “The match against Argentina will be very special for me, because it will be at the Maracaná, in my hometown, Rio de Janeiro. It will be even more wonderful because my family will be in the stadium,” said the young man.
“I don’t think you need any extra motivation to play a derby of this magnitude,” he added, saying that “it’s always very exciting to play against Argentina.” On the field of play will be Lionel Messi, whom Paulinho pointed out as “the best in the history of football” along with Pelé, although he highlighted that the Brazilian did something else by “transforming football.”
O artilheiro isolado do Campeonato Brasileiro 2023 é Paulinho, com 17 gols! 🔝
Ele flecha, não tem jeito! 🏹⚽️#GaloPaixãoNacional pic.twitter.com/B7Kr3Z1qDS
— Atlético (@Atletico) November 10, 2023
Although his path in the senior team has just begun, this first step puts him in the race to get excited about playing in a World Cup. “It is my biggest dream. I will give everything I have to achieve it. You get goosebumps just thinking about what it would be like to wear the Brazil shirt in the World Cup,” he said.
Paulinho also spoke about Atlético Mineiro, which is fifth in a Brasileirao that will have an exciting finish. “We will try to win all the games, see how the table looks and, if the opportunity opens up to go for something more, we will fight for it. But at this moment our main objective is qualification for the Libertadores,” he commented.
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