Few nations have or ever will produce as many world-class players as Brazil. Pelé, Romário, Ronaldo (the original), Ronaldinho, Kaká, Neymar – to name just a few – have all rolled off the Brazilian conveyor belt and taken the world by storm. To them, football is more than a game. It’s an art. A form of expression. Entertainment. Flair. After all, there’s a reason they call it Samba Football. For the people of Brazil, football is life. And it always will be as they continue to develop wonderkid after wonderkid, some of which you’ll find in this year’s best young Brazilian players in FIFA 21 list below:
Looking for the best young Brazilian players in FIFA 22? Check them out here.
Best Brazilian Wonderkids in FIFA 21
10. Paulo Henrique Sampaio Filho (Bayer Leverkusen: CAM, RM)
After starting his career at Vasco da Gama Paulo Henrique, like most Brazilian prospects, is currently plying his trade in Europe with Bayer Leverkusen. The 19-year-old, who can play on the right-wing or as an attacking midfielder, has made 28 Bundesliga appearances in his first two seasons in Germany.
With a release clause of €18.1 million, Henrique currently has an overall rating of 74 with the potential to reach 85, making him a fantastic investment on your career mode.
9. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal: LW, LM, ST)
Big things are expected from the Arsenal youngster this season. Three goals in his debut campaign at the Emirates has seen his overall rating rise to 74 with a potential of 85.
Operating mainly as a striker and occasionally wide left, Martinelli has pace to burn with Sprint Speed of 86 and Acceleration of 87. In front of goal, he’s a natural goal scorer with 74 finishing. Not to be sniffed at for a 19-year-old wonderkid. Whether you take the reins of Arsenal in your career mode or activate his release clause at €20 million, you’ll have a serious baller on your hands.
8. Gustavo Assunção (Famalicão: CDM)
The only defensive midfielder to make the list, Gustavo Assunção is a box to box type with outstanding stamina. He’s strong and aggressive but can play a bit too, which is illustrated with 75 ball control and 72 dribbling.
Often likened to Manchester City’s Fernandinho, Gustavo plays for Famalicão in Portugal where he’s already established himself as a first-team regular. Should he continue his excellent form, then it’s only a matter of time before one of Europe’s big boys comes knocking. And for just €21.4 million he’s a FIFA 21 bargain.
7. Tete (Mateus Cardoso Lemos Martins) (Shakhtar Donetsk: RM, CAM)
Mateus Cardoso Lemos Martins, or Tete, joins an illustrious list of fellow Brazilians to play for Ukrainian heavyweights Shakhtar Donetsk. The 20-year-old, with an overall rating of 75 and potential of 86, is often deployed wide right but occasionally drifts inside to play as a CAM.
He fits the mould of a classic Brazilian winger with bags of pace – sprint speed 84 and acceleration 82 – and ridiculous dribbling ability (82). If you’re looking for flair and skill, Tete’s your man with a release clause of €26.5 million.
6. Luis Henrique Tomaz de Lima (Marseille: RW)
Luis Henrique is another Brazilian right-winger tipped to be a star. At just 18, he’s swapped boyhood club Botafogo for Marseille but is yet to feature for the French side. His overall rating of 67 means he’s unlikely to become a dominant force right away should you trigger his release clause of just €4.6 million, but with a potential of 87, he’s definitely one for the future and worth the gamble.
Again, he’s pacy (sprint speed 83 and acceleration 85) with quick feet (dribbling 72). Improve his finishing and you’ve got a player on your hands.
5. Reinier Jesus Carvalho (Borussia Dortmund: CF, CAM)
Borussia Dortmund have an abundance of young talent at their disposal, and the Germans bolstered their ranks with the arrival of Reinier Jesus Carvalho earlier this summer. On loan from Real Madrid, the 18-year-old operates centrally as a CF or CAM. For his age, he has exceptional ball control (74) and dribbling (77).
Standing tall at 6’1” he’s deceptively quick with a sprint speed of 80 and acceleration 85. This kid has talent; with an overall rating of 71 and potential of 87, he’s currently valued at just €4.9 million. That’s a bargain!
4. Francisco Evanilson (Porto: ST)
Brazilian strikers have a lot to live up to. Often compared to the likes of Pelé and Ronaldo, few have what it takes to step up. But Francisco Evanilson definitely has the potential (87) to be world-class.
He’s a completely different type of striker to Ronaldo, taller and slower, but what he lacks in pace he makes up for in front of goal. He’s a natural-born finisher (79), and that’s only going to get better with age. Plus, he’s good in the air, as you’d expect for his size, with a FIFA heading accuracy rating of 75. Currently at Porto Evanilson has a release clause of €23.6 million.
3. Antony Matheus dos Santos (Ajax: RW, LW)
Acrobat. Speedster. Antony Matheus dos Santos has the potential (88) to become one hell of a player. With an overall rating of 78 on FIFA 21, the 20-year-old Ajax winger has already made over 50 competitive appearances, most of which came for boyhood club São Paulo.
Antony is expected to spend a couple of seasons in Holland, improving his play, particularly his end product, before moving on to one of Europe’s big boys.
2. Rodrygo Silva de Goes (Real Madrid: RW, RS)
19-year-old wonderkid Rodrygo joined Real Madrid in 2019 from Santos, and the La Liga giants slapped a €47.3 million release clause on the kids head. He’s a serious player and already has an overall rating of 79 in FIFA 21 with a potential of 90.
He bagged 13 goals in 63 appearances for Santos and plays as a right-winger or right striker. With a sprint speed of 86, acceleration 88 and dribbling 84 the kid is electric.
1. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid: LW)
There’s a reason Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior has a release clause of €73.6 million, he’s special. Very special. Brazil’s hottest prospect in FIFA 21, Vinicius has an overall rating of 80 and 93 potential. At the age of 19, he’s already made over 50 appearances for Los Blancos and has a La Liga winners medal.
Vinicius is one of the fastest players in the game with sprint speed and acceleration ratings of 95. But he needs to improve his end product if he’s to become Real Madrid’s long term replacement for Ronaldo.
To conclude, Brazil’s future looks very bright from an offensive point of view. They have an array of midfield and attacking talents who look set for the big time. Vinicius has already showcased his credentials in Spain earning himself a senior international cap, and the others in the list will be looking to follow suit. With the majority of the players on the list available for less than €30 million, there’s potential to bag an absolute bargain.
