10. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
Martinelli began his career at Ituano, where he scored 6 goals in 17 matches and won the 2019 Campeonato Paulista.
In 2019, he joined Arsenal for a fee of around £6 million and became an instant fan favorite.
He scored 10 goals in his first season, becoming the first teenager to reach double figures for Arsenal since Nicolas Anelka.
In his second season, he suffered a serious knee injury that kept him out for most of the campaign.
He returned to action in 2021 and helped Arsenal win the FA Cup.
Martinelli made his senior international debut for Brazil in 2022 and was part of their squad that played at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Martinelli is a prolific and versatile forward who can play as a center-forward, a second striker, or a winger. He is quick, skillful, agile, and composed, and excels at creating and scoring goals.
He is also very hard-working, often pressing and tracking back to help his team defensively.
He is a passionate and charismatic player, who celebrates his goals with joy and enthusiasm.
9. Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
Rodrygo began his career at Santos, where he became the youngest-ever player to score in the Copa Libertadores at 17 years and 50 days old.
In 2019, he joined Real Madrid for a reported fee of €45 million, becoming the second most expensive sale in Brazilian and South American football history.
At Real Madrid, he has won two La Liga titles, the Champions League in 2022 and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2022.
He has also scored a hat-trick in the Champions League against Galatasaray, becoming the second youngest player to do so.
Rodrygo made his senior international debut for Brazil in 2019 and was part of their squads that came runners-up in the Copa América in 2021 and played at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Rodrygo is a versatile and creative attacker who can play on either a flank or as a center-forward.
He is fast, skillful, agile, and composed, and excels at creating and scoring goals. He is also very mature and intelligent for his age and has a good understanding of the game.
He is a confident and expressive player, who enjoys playing with flair and style.
8. Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)
Gabriel Jesus began his career at Palmeiras, where he was voted Best Newcomer at the 2015 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and finished first in the Copa do Brasil.
In 2016, he won the Bola de Ouro helping Palmeiras win their first national league title in 22 years.
He signed with Manchester City in January 2017 for a fee of £27 million and won four Premier League titles, three EFL Cups, and an FA Cup.
He scored 95 goals for the club and is also known for his creativity, fighting spirit, and link up play.
In July 2022, he joined Arsenal in a deal worth £45 million.
Jesus made his senior international debut for Brazil in 2016, and was part of their squads that took part in the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022, and the Copa América in 2019 and 2021, winning the former tournament. Jesus is known for his versatility as a forward, his quick and skillful playing style, and his hard-working and passionate approach to the game.
However, he has been criticized for his lack of consistency and occasional struggles with pressure and expectations.
Currently 26, he is still in his prime and has a contract with Arsenal until 2027.
7. Éder Militão (Real Madrid)
Éder Militão began his career at São Paulo, playing 57 matches over two years before transferring to Porto.
In 2019, after one season in Portugal, he joined Real Madrid for a reported transfer fee of €50 million.
He won two La Liga titles, the Champions League in 2022, and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2022.
Militão made his senior international debut for Brazil in 2018.
He was part of their squads that won the Copa América in 2019 and came runners-up in 2021, also playing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Militão is a complete defender who can also play as a right-back or defensive midfielder.
He is powerful, fast, aggressive, and reliable, and excels at winning duels, making interceptions, and clearing danger.
6. Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)
Marquinhos plays mainly as a centre-back for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain, which he captains, and the Brazil national team, which he vice-captains.
Marquinhos began his career at Corinthians, and after winning the 2012 Copa Libertadores he moved to Roma for an eventual fee of €3 million.
In July 2013, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain for €31.4 million on a five-year contract, one of the highest fees for a player under the age of 20.
At PSG, Marquinhos has won eight Ligue 1 titles and twelve domestic cups and has reached the 2020 UEFA Champions League final. He ranks third for all-time appearances for the club.
Marquinhos made his full international debut for Brazil in 2013 and was part of their under-21 side which won the 2014 Toulon Tournament.
He also represented the nation at the 2015 Copa América and the following year’s Copa América Centenario and won a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics.
He subsequently took part in the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, and the 2019 and 2021 Copa América, winning the 2019 title while also being named its best goalkeeper.
5. Alisson Becker (Liverpool)
Alisson Becker plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Liverpool and the Brazil national team.
Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, he is renowned for his immense shot stopping, distribution, and ability in one-on-one situations.
Alisson joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2018 for a fee of £66.8 million (€72.5 million), making him the most expensive goalkeeper of all time.
At Liverpool, Alisson has won the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.
In 2019, he was named The Best FIFA Goalkeeper and was also the recipient of the inaugural Yashin Trophy.
Alisson has twice been selected in the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World.
Alisson made his senior international debut for Brazil in 2015, and was part of their squads that won the Copa América in 2019 and came runners-up in 2021, also playing at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.
4. Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Thiago Silva is considered one of the best Brazilian footballers currently due to his exceptional skills as a center-back and his numerous accomplishments in both club and national team settings.
His illustrious club career includes stints with several top clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, AC Milan, and Fluminense Football Club.
He has made a significant impact in the Premier League, with over 190 appearances for Chelsea, contributing to the team’s success in recent years.
On the international front, Silva has been a stalwart for the Brazil national team since 2008, earning 113 caps and scoring 7 goals.
He has also represented Brazil at the Olympic level, making 8 appearances and netting 2 goals.
Silva’s individual performances have not gone unnoticed.
He was named to the Premier League Team of the Year in 2014 and 2015 while playing for Paris Saint-Germain, a testament to his consistent high-level performances.
As a player, Silva is known for his strong defense, aerial prowess, and ability to read the game well. His passing and tackling skills have also been key contributors to his success on the field.
3. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Vinicius started his career at Flamengo, where he made his professional debut at the age of 16.
He scored 14 goals in 69 games for the club, winning the Campeonato Carioca in 2017. He was also named the Best Newcomer and the Best Player of the competition.
He signed for Real Madrid in 2017 for a reported fee of €46 million, becoming the second-most expensive sale of a Brazilian player at the time.
Vinicius joined Real Madrid in 2018 and initially played for the reserve team, Real Madrid Castilla.
He made his first-team debut in September 2018, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to play for the club.
In October 2018, he scored his first goal for the club, becoming the youngest player to score in the UEFA Champions League for Real Madrid.
He established himself as a regular starter for the club in the 2019-20 season, forming a partnership with Karim Benzema.
Vinicius has won two La Liga titles, one Supercopa de España, one FIFA Club World Cup, and one UEFA Super Cup with Real Madrid.
He has scored 28 goals and provided 32 assists in 156 appearances for the club so far.
A full international since 2019, Vinicius has scored 4 goals in 19 caps for Brazil, making him one of the most promising talents in the national team.
He represented Brazil at the Copa América in 2019 and 2021, winning the former tournament.
He also played for Brazil at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, scoring three goals in four games.
He was ranked 12th for the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2021.
2. Casemiro (Manchester United)
Casemiro won the Campeonato Paulista in 2012 with São Paulo. His defensive abilities caught the attention of Real Madrid, and he joined the club on loan in January 2013.
He played 15 games for Real Madrid Castilla during his loan spell.
Afterward, he was signed permanently by Real Madrid for £5.1 million, becoming a part of their first-team squad at the Santiago Bernabéu.
After joining Real Madrid, Casemiro initially struggled to break into the first team. He was loaned to FC Porto for €15 million to gain more playing time.
During his time at Porto, Casemiro performed impressively and helped the team reach the Champions League quarterfinals.
Real Madrid decided to reacquire him for €7.00m in the summer transfers of the 2015 season.
Casemiro played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s success, contributing to their triumphs in various competitions.
He won five La Liga titles, four Supercopa de España, four FIFA Club World Cups, four UEFA Super Cups, one Copa del Rey, and five UEFA Champions Leagues.
In 2022, after winning his fifth Champions League title at Madrid, he joined Manchester United for a transfer fee of €70.65m and won the EFL Cup in his first season there.
A full international since 2011, Casemiro has scored 7 goals in 75 caps for Brazil, making him one of the most capped players in the current squad.
He represented Brazil at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022, as well as three Copa América tournaments, winning the 2019 Copa América and the runners-up of the 2021 edition.
He also won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2011.
1. Neymar Jr. (Al Hilal)
Neymar rose to prominence at Santos, making his professional debut at the age of 17.
During his time at Santos, he won the 2011 Copa Libertadores, the club’s first since 1963, and was named the South American Footballer of the Year in 2011 and 2012.
In 2013, he moved to Barcelona, where he won the continental treble in his second season, claiming La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.
He was the top scorer in the Champions League campaign and the top scorer in the Copa del Rey.
In 2017, Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in a record €222 million transfer, becoming the most expensive player at the time.
During his tenure at PSG, he won numerous titles, including Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, the Coupe de la Ligue, and the Trophée des Champions, and helped the team reach its first-ever Champions League final in 2020.
In 2020-21, he became the highest-scoring Brazilian player in Champions League history.
In a surprising move in 2023, Neymar joined Al Hilal in a lucrative deal worth $300 million for two years, with the potential to earn up to $400 million, including add-ons and bonus clauses.
He has scored 0 goals and provided 2 assists in 3 appearances for Al Hilal so far.
Neymar is also a key player for the Brazilian national team, having scored 79 goals in 128 caps, making him the third-highest goalscorer of all time for his national team, behind Pelé and Ronaldo.
He has represented Brazil at the FIFA World Cup and the Copa América, winning the 2019 Copa América and finishing as runners-up in the 2021 edition.
He also won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and the Olympic gold medal in 2016.
