The FIFA World Cup 2022 is finally over, and the cycle for 2026 officially begins. There are numerous talking points as the competition comes to a close. Is Belgium’s golden generation finally over? How far can this next generation of Spanish talent go? And many more questions surrounding the big nations’ transition into the next four years.
One of the most disappointing nations in this year’s edition was Brazil. Tite’s squad had seemingly found the perfect mix, with young superstars such as Vini Jr. and Lucas Paquetá joining experienced veterans like PSG’s Neymar and Manchester United’s Casemiro.
The Seleção were prematurely knocked out though, and now there are numerous questions surrounding the Brazilian national team. The biggest is perhaps Neymar, as nobody knows whether the former Barcelona player will compete in the next competition. There is also a huge question mark around the manager position, with Tite having officially left the job. Nonetheless, bright young stars like Endrick and Vitor Roque seem to be on a good track for 2026. As it has been throughout history, Brazilian’s future is bright, and despite the many questions surrounding their team, they should be expected to enter the 2026 World Cup as one of the favourites.
In order to do that though, there is a position they must figure out. Going into the Qatar World Cup, Dani Alves was a big talking point. Many questioned the selection of the 39-year-old, but then again, were there many other options? Aside from Danilo, Emerson Royal and Dodô were the only options, with the former having extremely disappointing performances in the yellow shirt.
Danilo is 31 years old, and Dani Alves is out of the picture for the first time since 2006. So it’s time to look at the next Brazilian right-backs. This data analysis will examine the three brightest prospects emerging into the global stage, all 21 years old or younger. Using data and statistics from Wyscout, this analysis will explore each player’s profile and career so far.
Vanderson, 21 years old, Monaco
First up is 21-year-old Vanderson, from Monaco. Vanderson is the oldest player on this list, and he is already heavily linked with Barcelona. After rising out of Grêmio’s academy, he made his professional debut in late 2020. In 2021, he had his first full season with the senior squad, being a regular option in the Porto Alegre club’s squad. Vanderson performed extremely well, especially at such a young age. However, Grêmio were relegated after a disastrous campaign, and it did not take long before European clubs took advantage.
Monaco came knocking in the January transfer window and signed the Brazilian right-back for €11M. Since then, Vanderson has had 44 appearances for the French club with a total of seven goal contributions. He is developing extremely quickly, and his resourceful profile has made him a valuable part of Philippe Clement’s side.
We can begin by looking at his 2022/23 heatmap above. Unlike traditional fullbacks, his movement tends to bleed well over into the right half-space. When he joined Monaco, Vanderson liked to burst forward and join the attack. A year later, his profile, especially in possession, has become much more well-rounded. His involvement in possession can be extremely dynamic, and he has no trouble inverting his positioning into the central areas.
In the last calendar year, he has averaged 46.62 passes per 90 (76.93%), with a healthy balance between lateral and forward passes. He also averages quite a few long passes, at 5.24 per 90 (52.27%). In a more detailed breakdown, we can see how often this involvement in possession tends to be in advanced areas. Vanderson has 6.52 passes to the final third per 90, and 3.66 passes to the penalty area per 90. His 1.28 through passes are especially impressive, as this is a high-quality method of creating chances.
