When the choice is no longer straightforward

Anyone following the UEFA European Under-17 Championship may have spotted, from time to time, a very familiar face in the stands: Marcelo, the legendary Brazilian left-back who became one of the most successful players in Real Madrid’s history, having won 25 titles with the club.

The former full-back, twice nominated for the Ballon d’Or, was at the tournament to support his son, 16-year-old Enzo Alves, captain of the Spanish team in the competition.

Although the son of two Brazilians – Marcelo and the actress Clarice Alves – Enzo was born and raised in Madrid, the city where his father built much of his career, and decided to represent Spain in international football rather than the Brazilian national team.

Having already signed his first professional contract with Real Madrid, the young striker has been racking up impressive statistics in the club’s youth teams and also for the Spanish national side. On his debut for the Under-15s, he scored a hat-trick. He then repeated the feat in just 35 minutes during the thrashing of Diocesano. He also found the net for Spain against hosts Estonia at the Under-17 European Championship.

For many Brazilians who dreamed of seeing him wear the Amarelinha shirt, the choice was not easy to accept. A few years ago, Enzo still seemed unsure about which national team he would represent, but today the feeling is that his international future is increasingly tied to Spain.

Marcelo, who introduced his son to football when he was still a child – with makeshift training sessions in the living room and garden at home – explained: “The important thing is that he’s happy. Enzo was born in Spain; his life is here. He loves Brazil, but he has everything here.” (GE)

Although a switch to the Brazilian national team is still possible, given that Enzo has never played an official match for Spain’s senior side, this scenario seems increasingly unlikely.

And cases like his are likely to become more common.

The CBF’s challenge in a borderless world of football

In a world increasingly marked by international mobility, the number of young Brazilians with dual nationality who need to choose which national team to represent is growing.

The CBF is aware of this reality. Since Samir Xaud took over as president of the organisation last year, the confederation has stepped up its monitoring of players eligible to represent Brazil who play abroad, in an attempt to prevent promising talent from slipping under the radar.

But, given the growing number of players scattered across the globe and holding multiple nationalities, the challenge is becoming ever greater.

The Italian-Brazilian tradition: the most common path

Another notable case, besides Enzo, is that of Samuele Inácio. The 18-year-old striker is the son of former Brazilian player Piá. As his father spent most of his career playing in Italy, Samuele was born in Bergamo to an Italian mother.

As a child, he joined the youth ranks at Atalanta, the club where Piá also began his professional career in the late 1990s. However, it was in the last two years, following his transfer to Borussia Dortmund, that his name began to gain international recognition.

In Germany, Samuele has been catching the eye of fans, officials and teammates. After his first start for the first team earlier this year, manager Niko Kovač was full of praise: “This lad is going to bring us a lot of joy. He’s a massive talent.” (Trivela)

On the international stage, however, all signs suggest he will follow a similar path to Enzo’s. After missing out on a third consecutive World Cup, Italy has embarked on a major overhaul of its national team and called up several young talents for its most recent friendlies. Although he has been monitored by the CBF for years, Samuele opted to represent the Azzurri and has become part of the team’s long-term project, which is already looking ahead to the 2030 World Cup.

His connection with Italy is not new. Last year, he played in the Under-17 World Cup as the number 10 for the Italian national team and helped the side secure third place, beating Brazil on penalties.

But that doesn’t mean Samuele has left his connection with Brazilian football behind. In several interviews, the striker has already expressed admiration for some of the country’s top talents. Last year, he stated that the player whose style most resembles his own is Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. When asked about his biggest idol, he was straightforward: “My football hero is Neymar; he inspires me a lot.” (FIFA)

Another young talent who could end up swapping the yellow shirt for the blue is Renato Marin, a 19-year-old goalkeeper born in São Paulo.

Renato began his career at Palmeiras, where he played as a defender before moving to goal. Alongside Endrick, now one of the leading names in the Brazilian national team, he was part of a winning generation in the club’s youth ranks. He later moved to São Paulo and won the Campeonato Paulista Under-13 title in 2019.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he moved to Rome with his mother and was given an opportunity with the Italian capital’s team. It was there that his career gained momentum. For Roma, he won the Under-16 and Under-17 titles in the Coppa Primavera, as well as reaching a final with the Under-20 side. In 2024, he was voted Italy’s best Under-20 goalkeeper.

His rise continued the following year when he signed for Paris Saint-Germain. Since then, he has been gaining more and more playing time in the first team. After making his professional debut in December, he began to feature more frequently in Ligue 1 matches, particularly given the injury problems faced by other goalkeepers in the squad, such as Lucas Chevalier.

Even at just 19 years old, Renato has already won five titles for Luis Enrique’s PSG in a single season, including the Champions League. The Brazilian has also received public praise from the Spanish manager, who highlighted his qualities: “I like his training sessions. He has physical and technical qualities.” (Lance!)

Like Samuele, Renato holds dual nationality. Called up for the first time to the Italian Under-19s in 2023, he competed in the European Championship for that age group the following year and remains part of the Azzurri’s youth set-up. Nevertheless, as he has never played for the senior national team, he remains eligible to represent Brazil should the CBF decide to call him up in the future.

Due to the large number of families of Italian origin in Brazil, this particular dual citizenship remains one of the most common among the most promising young players in world football. And the examples keep coming.

One of them is Emanuel Benjamín, an 18-year-old defender who plays for Real Madrid. Born in Santa Catarina, he never actually played for a Brazilian club. In 2018, at the age of 11, he moved to Spain with his family and continued his development in European football.

With grandparents originally from Pievepelago, in the Modena region, Emanuel chose to represent Italy internationally. The choice has already borne fruit: he won the Under-17 European Championship with the Azzurri and was voted the best right-back in the competition. From the outset, he never had any doubts about which national team to play for, and even stated: “I’m very happy to wear the blue shirt. As soon as I had the chance to wear it, I didn’t think twice.” (GE)

Another name attracting attention is Matheos Ferreira, a 20-year-old winger at Newcastle United. Born in England to a Brazilian father and an Italian mother, he is eligible to play for three different national teams: Brazil, Italy or England.

Although he has not yet decided on his international future, Matheos has already shown himself to be a great admirer of his Brazilian teammates at Newcastle, Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton, key players in the English club’s squad.

Then there is Fellipe Jack. Born in São Paulo, the 20-year-old centre-back stood out in Palmeiras’ youth ranks, winning several titles before moving to Como in Italy in 2024.

His situation is perhaps one of the most open among the names mentioned. Despite having taken part in activities with the Italian Under-19s last year, Fellipe has already represented Brazil in official youth competitions, forming part of the winning team at the 2022 Montaigu Tournament. Among his main role models in the position is one of the greatest defenders in the recent history of the Brazilian national team: Thiago Silva.

Speaking of Thiago Silva, the former centre-back’s sons – Isago, 17, and Iago, 15 – are also pursuing careers in football and will eventually have to decide which national team to represent. Both play in Chelsea’s youth teams, the club for which their father won three titles in four seasons. The younger of the two was even recently called up for a training camp with the England Under-15s.

It is still too early to know which path the brothers will take, but they represent another example of an increasingly common reality: young Brazilian talents raised abroad who grow up torn between different countries, cultures and shirts.

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Spain and Portugal: competing with Brazil for talent

Apart from Italy, the other two most common nationalities among young Brazilians growing up abroad are Portuguese and Spanish.

Take the example of João Muniz. Born on the island of Madeira, the 20-year-old centre-back plays for Sporting CP B and holds dual nationality. Although he is still eligible to play for Brazil, his career in the Portuguese youth teams suggests a different path. João has already played for Portugal at the 2022 Under-17 European Championship and has been called up again for the 2025 Under-21 European Championship.

Another rising star is Mateus Mide. The 18-year-old midfielder made his professional debut for Porto this season after spending virtually his entire youth career at the Portuguese club.

The son of former Brazilian footballer and futsal player Adriano Mide, he also holds dual citizenship, but all signs suggest his international choice has already been made. Born in Portugal, Mateus was one of the standout players in the campaign that led the Portuguese national team to the 2025 Under-17 European Championship title.

At the Under-17 World Cup, he received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player and played a decisive role in Portugal’s campaign, which saw them knock Brazil out of the tournament.

As for Spain, two other names stand out alongside Enzo Alves.

The first is Bryan Bugarín, Enzo’s teammate in Real Madrid’s youth ranks. At 17, the attacking midfielder is establishing himself as one of the most talented prospects of his generation.

The son of a Spanish father and a Brazilian mother, Bryan was born and raised in Spain and has had limited contact with Brazil, having visited the country only once as a baby. Even so, the CBF is closely monitoring his development, drawn by the creativity and technical quality that have made him one of the most highly rated talents in his age group.

These qualities were already evident during his time at Celta de Vigo, where he was hailed as the top prospect in the youth ranks and was even seen by many as a possible successor to Iago Aspas.

Since being signed by Real Madrid in 2021, his profile has only grown. Having obtained dual citizenship early last year, Bryan has become another name that could fuel hopes among Brazilian football officials. Although he has played for the Spanish youth teams, a change of sporting allegiance is still possible.

There are encouraging signs for the CBF: the midfielder has already cited Neymar, Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior among his main role models. At home, however, the debate remains open. As his mother, Gisele Gonçalves, joked: “I’d like him to play for the Brazilian national team. My husband, on the other hand, isn’t so keen, because he’s Spanish (laughs). I don’t know… As he’s never played for the Brazilian national team, we don’t know. He might get called up and enjoy it.” (GE)

Another name worthy of attention is Selton Sánchez.

The 19-year-old midfielder was born in Spain and joined Athletic Bilbao’s youth academy at the age of 10. His career path is particularly interesting because the Basque club has a long-standing policy of prioritising players with links to the region. As Selton was born in Durango, in the province of Biscay, he fully met the team’s criteria.

His performances in the UEFA Youth League quickly caught the eye. Thanks to his technical ability, vision and intelligence on the ball, he began to be compared to Barcelona’s Pedri. His performances also convinced Ernesto Valverde to promote him to Bilbao’s first team for the first time at the end of last year.

Although he has already represented the Spanish Under-18 and Under-19 teams, Selton remains eligible to represent Brazil thanks to the nationality he inherited from his mother.

It is precisely through his mother’s side that a curious connection with Brazilian football emerges. Selton is the cousin of Roberto Firmino, a former striker for the Brazilian national team and a two-time Ballon d’Or nominee.

For now, Selton’s international future remains open. It remains to be seen whether he will follow in his cousin’s footsteps by pulling on the Brazilian national team shirt or whether he will continue to build his career in the Spanish youth ranks.

Cases from around the world

Outside the Iberian Peninsula, there are many other young talents scattered across the globe who, sooner or later, will also have to decide which national team to represent.

One of them is 17-year-old Rafael Cirino, better known as Belinho. Born in Rio de Janeiro, he stood out in Vasco’s youth ranks, but saw his career take an unexpected turn at the age of 11, when he moved to Europe with his father, Misael.

The move came after Misael received a job offer in Croatia. Once settled in the South-Eastern European country, Belinho quickly found opportunities to continue his football training.

His first club was NK Vinodol, where it took him just three months to become the top scorer in the local league. His performances caught the eye and paved the way for a move to Dinamo Zagreb, the leading force in Croatian football.

At the capital club, he gained valuable experience in the youth ranks, taking part in international competitions and winning titles such as the Gol League and the Lubjila. In a curious return to his roots, he even went back to Rio de Janeiro to play in Flamengo’s Adidas Under-16 Cup whilst wearing the Croatian club’s shirt.

Despite interest from RB Leipzig in Germany, Belinho decided to stay in Croatia earlier this year, agreeing a move to NK Kustošija after receiving assurances that he would be part of the first-team project.

His adaptation to the country was so successful that he became fluent in Croatian and received direct support from the local football association to obtain citizenship. Today, he speaks openly about his desire to play for the Croatian national team: “I’ve got my Croatian passport; it’s a very difficult thing to obtain. The federation helped me. They’ve already invited me to play; the coach is desperate for me to play soon. I’m just waiting for the next call-up; they’ve already said they’ll call me up.” (Net Vasco)

Comparisons with Eduardo da Silva came naturally. Like Belinho, the former striker was born in Brazil, built his career at Dinamo Zagreb and eventually chose to represent Croatia on the international stage.

But behind his enthusiasm for the Croatian national team, there are still signs of the emotional bond he maintains with Brazil. Recalling Brazil’s elimination by Croatia in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup, Belinho expressed this sentiment in a light-hearted manner: “I’ve already had my photo taken with Bruno Petković, who plays for Dinamo Zagreb and scored the goal against Brazil. We did some keepie-uppies together. I told him he shouldn’t have scored that goal, because it knocked our Brazil out of the World Cup.” (Net Vasco)

Another interesting example is Pedro Soma.

Pedro captained the US national team at the 2023 Under-17 World Cup and also took part in the 2024 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, establishing himself as one of the most promising names in the country’s new generation.

Despite his decision to play for the United States, he makes a point of highlighting his Brazilian roots whenever possible, stating: "People say I have the Brazilian flair. Perhaps I was born with it. I love playing and it comes naturally." (Chasing a Cup)

The influences that have shaped his style reflect precisely this dual identity. Among his greatest idols, Pedro cites both Michael Bradley, one of the most prominent captains in the history of the US national team, and Casemiro, a leading figure in the Brazilian midfield over the last decade.

Between Brazil and Asia

Finally, the list includes two young talents who are keeping their options open for Asian national teams.

The first is Kaique Kenji, a 20-year-old winger at Cruzeiro.

Born in São Paulo, Kaique began playing football in Corinthians’ youth ranks as a child, but it was his arrival at Cruzeiro in 2022 that really put him on the radar of international scouts and recruiters.

Promoted to the first-team squad in 2024, the forward has been gaining more and more playing time in the first team. This season, he has established himself as one of the club’s rising stars and has made the most of his opportunities in the starting line-up to attract attention on a national level. Last month, he scored the winning goal against Bahia in the Brasileirão and was named man of the match.

His family background helps explain why his international future remains open. On his father’s side, Kaique is the son of former Brazilian national team left-back Kléber and has Afro-Brazilian ancestry. On his mother’s side, he has Japanese and Italian roots.

Although he has lived his whole life in Brazil and has already represented the Brazilian national team at last year’s South American Under-20 Championship, the Japanese Football Association is closely monitoring his progress. The player is, in fact, in the process of obtaining Japanese citizenship, which keeps open the possibility of representing the Asian nation in the future.

Finally, there is the case of Maycon Cardozo.

The son of former player Douglas Rodrigues, the 17-year-old striker was born in São Bernardo do Campo, but left Brazil at a very young age. When he was just two years old, the family moved to Thailand because of his father’s career. At the age of four, Maycon was already taking his first steps in football at the Ratchaburi academy, the club where Douglas worked as an assistant coach.

His talent emerged early. His performances in the youth teams quickly caught the attention of the local media and, at the age of nine, he was even featured on a TV programme called ‘Super 10’, which showcased the talent and skills of children across the country.

From then on, his career took off. After playing for various Thai football teams, he helped Chainat Hornbill win the FA Thailand Youth League in 2023 and, the following year, received an invitation to join the World Squad, an international talent development initiative run by Bayern Munich.

It was through this project that his name began to make waves globally.

Maycon scored eight goals during the programme’s international friendlies – including two against Bayern’s youth team – and impressed so much that he received public praise from coach Roy Makaay.

The result was almost immediate. In early 2025, Bayern made his signing official, making Maycon the first player in history to join the club directly via the World Squad.

Since then, his rise has shown no signs of slowing down. This season, he made his professional debut for Bayern in the Bundesliga, becoming the youngest Brazilian to play for the German club, and also scored his first goal for the first team.

When it comes to the national team, Maycon has at least three possible paths.

The first is Thailand, the country where he has lived practically his entire life and developed as an athlete. The local football association has been monitoring his progress for years, but there is a bureaucratic hurdle: Thai law only allows naturalisation from the age of 20, meaning he would still need to wait some time to become eligible.

Another possibility is Portugal. Due to his Portuguese ancestry, the Portuguese Football Federation has already made preliminary contact to gauge his interest in representing the country.

But, at least for now, everything suggests that Maycon’s dream remains to wear the yellow shirt. As his father, Douglas, explained: “He has had this dream, ever since he was a boy, of wearing the Brazilian national team shirt. Because he has great idols like Neymar and Ronaldinho, these great Brazilian players, he has this longing and desire to play for the national team.” (CNN Brasil)

The weight of identity and lessons from the past

There are many other cases similar to those presented in this article which, due to lack of space, could not be explored in greater depth.

For the CBF, this presents an ever-growing challenge. In a globalised world of football, where families frequently move from one country to another and young talents are developed in the most diverse corners of the globe, keeping track of players eligible to represent Brazil has become a complex and ongoing task.

The aim is clear: to identify the most promising athletes early on and prevent future stars from ending up choosing other national teams.

This concern is not unfounded. Throughout the 21st century, Brazil has seen several top-level players take different paths on the international stage. Names such as Deco, Pepe, Marcos Senna, Diego Costa, Jorginho and Thiago Alcântara could have worn the Brazilian national team shirt, but ended up representing other countries.

Who will wear the Yellow Jersey?

Naturally, not all the young players mentioned throughout this text will reach the highest level of world football. That is the fate of many promising talents. But some of them will certainly get there.

The big question is: which ones?

Which of these talents scattered across the globe could become one of the key players in the next generation of the Brazilian national team?

Which of them could compete for the biggest titles in international football?

For now, there are no definitive answers. Only time will tell which of these young players will choose to wear the Yellow Jersey and which will build their careers representing other nations.

But one thing seems certain: the future of Brazilian football lies not only within the country’s borders.

It is also spread across the globe, waiting to be chosen.