You’ve probably imagined what a player would look like if he merged the best features of great football players. Who knew a player with Lionel Messi’s brilliance and left foot mixed with Cristiano Ronaldo’s right foot and aerial play could be so devastating?
Although this player is unlikely to be realized, it does not rule out the possibility of imagining what this “perfect player” may look like if only Brazilian athletes were engaged. Messi and Ronaldo’s characteristics would be hard to combine, but Neymar, Casemiro, and Marquinhos’ attributes, for example, might be combined.
Because every fan has a favorite player, this topic generally generates a lot of discussion. As a consequence, it’s essential to develop criteria in order to be impartial and generate a “Super Player” that comes as close to pleasing Brazilians as possible.
Do you want to know what the conclusion of our inquiry will be? Then analyze the characteristics of a player with the best probability of making the Brazilian National Team. Winning the World Cup for instance would undoubtedly be a lot easier!
Player selection criteria
Unlike other lists that have previously been established, our Super Player was mostly based on current Brazilian athlete data. The goal is to find individuals who stand out the most in each quality so that you may visualize what a “Super Player” might look like if all of the attributes were combined. The majority of the information came from FootStats.
We continue to examine only active players who are at least listed for the Brazilian National Team. As a result, we were able to balance the numbers with the difficulty level of the opponents in order to prevent sportsmen who succeed in lower leagues or against really weak teams.
Because it is the official tournament in which Brazil is presently competing, the stats from the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers hold more weight, but we also look at statistics from the Brazilian Championship and the major European national championships, in addition to the UEFA Champions League.
As a result, we were able to collect 10 distinct elements in order to create our Super Player. Because even numbers may be evaluated in a variety of ways, you are likely to disagree with any of the choices. In any case, all of the traits chosen are potent weapons for these international sportsmen who represent Brazil.
The super player
Brazil is a machine for producing and exposing football talent. Despite claims that the current generation is not as excellent as previous generations, the squad is one of the greatest in the world and they are among the favorites to win the World Cup. In fact, several bookies consider Brazil’s squad to be the favorite.
But what if we could combine all of the finest abilities into a single player? For example, how about combining Neymar’s finishing prowess with Marquinhos’ dynamism and Vincius Junior’s speed? This was the activity we completed, so have a look at our “Man-Goal”!
Right Foot: Neymar
Nothing is fairer than picking the most active Brazilian player to get started on the right foot. Neymar is a complete player with a powerful attacking arsenal, but his right foot is the source of some perplexing dribbles and crucial goals.
Neymar has scored almost 400 goals in his career, putting him among the greatest scorers in the nation. Of the first 400 goals, 282 were scored with the right foot, accounting for 70% of the total. Furthermore, 23 of them were called from free kicks and 69 from penalties, both of which are valuable skillsets for the striker.
In 116 games, with the Brazilian squad, he has scored 70 goals. Only Pele has scored more goals for Brazil than Neymar, who has 95 in the national team’s history. As a result, the number 10 has already scored more goals than renowned players like as Romario and Ronaldo while wearing the yellow jersey.
Because it comes through assists, shoots, and crucial passes, the same right foot will be vital to complement other traits of this Super Player.
Although Neymar is not having the finest season of his career and finished 2021 with the fewest goals and assists since joining Santos, statistically he is still well ahead of the competition.
Left Foot: Raphinha
Rivaldo, Rivellino, and Roberto Carlos have all played for the Brazilian national team’s left foot. Raphinha, another player with the initial R at the start of his name, is now making a name for himself with his left-handed play. With strong performances and goals, the striker gradually gained a starting spot in the Brazilian National Team.
Raphinha, who is 25 years old, has played seven games for Amarelinha and scored three goals. In the qualifiers, his last one was won against Paraguay. The striker had one extra good and one incorrect shot in the same match.
If he is establishing himself in the Brazilian National Team, the ace is having a fantastic season in the Premier League. In 22 games this season, he has 9 goals and 2 assists, averaging 0.5 direct participations per game for Leeds. His statistics outperform those of other Brazilian attackers who play in England, such as Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino and Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).
Given that Brazil do not have a large number of left-handed players, Raphinha’s selection may come as a surprise, given how quickly the player rose to prominence in European football. Their numbers and performance levels, however, are sufficient to place them ahead of competitors such as Lucas Paquetá and Gabriel Barbosa.
Head: Bruno Henrique
Our striker is not a native of the United States, but he has impressive statistics in this area and enters the box on his own merits. Bruno Henrique has been a staple for Flamengo since 2019, and he took part in the memorable season under Jorge Jesus’ direction.
In November, GE reported that 24 of Flamengo’s 76 goals at the time were headed (average of 30 percent of goals scored this way). During the time period, the result outperforms other athletes with a strong aerial game, such as Diego Souza (18) and Renato Kayzer (13).
Another plus for Bruno Henrique is that the Brazilian team’s major attackers, such as Gabriel Barbosa, Roberto Firmino, and Gabriel Jesus, do not distinguish out in this area. Matheus Cunha, who has lately gained chances, is a strong contender for the “head,” but the Flamengo star’s statistics are much better.
Bruno Henrique was called up a few times during the 2022 Cup cycle, but he fell down the pecking order on Tite’s priority list. Despite the appointment of coach Paulo Sousa, he remains one of Flamengo’s stars and an absolute starter.
Trunk: Casemiro
We picked an athlete that excels in tackling, one of the most vital defensive skills, to design our Super Player’s torso. The body game is crucial for disputing the ball against the opponent individually and initiating the team’s offensive moves.
We debated between Casemiro, Fabinho, and Lucas Paquetá, but decided on the former due to his defensive numbers and ball delivery ability. Paquetá had more tackles (31 to 23) than Casemiro in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers, although the midfielder has played less and has a better average (2.56 per game).
Casemiro has an average of 51.8 accurate passes per game in nine games, which is about 93 percent accuracy.
Fabinho is somewhat better than average in this aspect, with 95.85% accuracy, but less attempts and games. Paquetá’s index is lower (86.2%), yet it’s still adequate to establish a strong brand.
Casemiro leads the Spanish Championship in tackles, with 71 in total and an average of 3.2 per game.
The midfielder has established himself as one of the finest in his position since 2013 at Real Madrid, with a brief stay at Porto, and ensures a defensive presence in our Super Player, who is a versatile athlete who can play in a variety of positions.
Leg 1: Vinicius Junior
We picked a quick player for the first leg of our “Man-Gal” because speed is a key factor in breaking through opposition defenses and constructing dangerous plays.
Vinicius Junior, without a doubt, is the Brazilian who best embodies these qualities and stands out on the side of the field with his pace and dribbling.
Although the “Malvadeza” is not the fastest Brazilian in the world, he achieved the second highest speed in the Spanish Championship this season (35.1 km/h), behind only Inaki Williams by 0.1.
Bruno Henrique, who has previously been called up to the Brazilian National Team, has already clocked in at 38 km/h, but Vini Jr is in a better phase and faces more challenging opponents in Europe.
His statistics in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League for Real Madrid are remarkable. In La Liga, the attacker averages 2.74 dribbles per game, which puts him ahead of Memphis Depay (1.50) and Yannick Carrasco (1.41).
He averages 3 accurate dribbles per game in the Champions League, equaling Mbappé and surpassing Lionel Messi (2.50) and Neymar (1.40).
In other words, Vinicius Junior is picked to be a part of our “election” when it comes to the capacity to defeat opponents, whether in terms of speed or individual moves.
Leg 2: Marquinhos
Our Super Player must have both quality and initiative in order to thrive at aerial balls. Marquinhos (1.83m) is not a very tall defender, but he stands out for his quickness.
As a result, he not only serves as a defensive cornerstone for Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazilian national team, but he also plays offense and scores goals with his head. In his time with the national team, he has already made four appearances, which is a decent figure for a player of his position.
Thiago Silva, an older player who is expected to play his last World Cup in 2022, is another defender who stands out in this way. On the other hand, Marquinhos is 27 years old and still has plenty of wood to burn. In the Seleçao, the two create a great defensive tandem (they have also played together at PSG).
It’s difficult to get statistics on player impulse, although Marquinhos, for example, has a 91 impulse rating in FIFA 21. His technical ability is undeniable, but in our quest to create the ultimate Brazilian player, his initiative is a critical component of his success.
Waist Game: Neymar
With 35 dribbles in 10 games, Neymar leads the South American Qualifiers in dribbling (average of 3.5 per game). Colombian Juan Cuadrado comes closest, with 31 dribbles in 15 games (average of 2.07 per game).
True, the Brazilian ace leads the squad in errant dribbles (20), but he still makes about 64% of his shots and plays a key role in the Brazilian team’s successful season. In his absence, the squad maintained its level of play, but it is certain that he will be crucial at facing European opponents in the World Cup.
As previously said, the star’s figures at PSG aren’t as impressive, thus Vincius Junior would be the “alternative” in this regard owing to his ability to break through opposition defenses in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League. However, he has yet to achieve the same level of success in the Selecao.
Neymar, on the other hand, has managed to make it to the national squad and still has impressive dribbling and playmaking statistics. In the Champions League encounter against Atalanta in 2020, he tied Lionel Messi’s record of 16 dribbles completed. Dribbling is, in fact, one of your most valuable assets.
Eyes: Neymar
The eyes of our players are in charge of perceiving the game and providing favorable possibilities for teammates. Neymar, once again, is the Brazilian standout in this area, as he has the most goal assists in the 2022 Qualifiers.
Another category in which he stands out is completing assists. He is fourth with 21 games; however he has played three less games than his opponents. Lionel Messi, who leads the competition with 26 goals, has now appeared in 14 games for Argentina.
The ace has three assists in 11 games for PSG this season in Ligue 1. Neymar has been on the decline in terms of goals and assists in recent years, but he remains a favorite with Brazilian players and even those who work in Brazil. Scarpa got 12 assists in the Brasileirão in 2021; however he is not in the Seleçao.
Neymar began his career as a striker, but now he is in charge of setting up plays for the Brazilian National Team. There is no such thing as a traditional 10 who excels at shooting and passing since the harvest of innovative socks isn’t the finest. Within these parameters, he is the best waiter in the nation and has the required game vision to make a difference.
Arms: Lucas Paquetá
During soccer play, the arm is not allowed to contact the ball, yet it is an essential element of body protection and play. It is difficult to find statistics on this aspect, so we chose the one that best represents this style in Brazilian football today: Lucas Paquetá.
The Lyon player is very versatile and can play as a midfielder, midfielder or even more forward in attack. After a stint at Milan, he gained space in French football and convinced coach Tite. He will hardly be left out of the squad for the World Cup.
Good bodywork makes Lucas Paquetá have an excellent number of tackles, even though he is not a contention player. He has made a total of 31 in 13 games, with an average of 2.38 per game. He is just behind Uruguayan Rodrigo Betancur, who has 35 tackles in 14 games (2.50 per game) and remains a very valuable player in Brazil’s midfield.
Other players who stand out in this aspect are Gerson, ex-Flamengo and currently at Marseille, and midfielders Casemiro and Fabinho, who also have excellent tackle numbers. The first one even has a style of play similar to that of Paquetá, but has not yet achieved the same performance in Europe.
Hands: Allison
Our Super Player will be the team’s biggest star, but he’ll also defend the goal if necessary. Goalkeepers have done a fantastic job for Brazil.
The three players who will be tasked with defending the National Team in the World Cup (Alisson, Ederson, and Weverton) are fully capable of starting and sustaining a successful tournament.
Even so, deciding who would “lend” hands to the player is tough. In the fight between Alisson and Ederson, the figures reveal a fair balance. The first has been a member of the Brazilian national team for six years and continues to be Tite’s favorite, while the second has been getting more opportunities and is vying for his position.
According to FootStats, Ederson has the lead in terms of number of saves (36), while Alisson has more tough saves (21). Although Manchester City’s defense has the fewest leaks (17), Liverpool’s run is longer.
We picked Alisson to assemble our player because of his amount of matches with the Brazilian National Team and individual accomplishments, but the statistics are nicely balanced. Ederson, on the other hand, has a more complete game with his feet, making him a trusted player for Guardiola. Alisson takes use of the space between the beams.
What were your thoughts on our Super Player? Would you alter any of the items on the list? Tell us how you’d put together your “dream team” of Brazilian athletes!
