Gabriel Magalhaes is Arsenal’s latest full international having made his competitive debut for Brazil as they beat Bolivia 5-1 in their opening qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
The centre-back has had to wait a long time to get on the pitch for his country having been on the bench on four previous occasions, the last of which came in February 2022.
The 25-year-old had hoped to be part of the squad that travelled to Qatar for the World Cup but was overlooked by technical director Juninho who wasn’t impressed at the player turning down an earlier call-up to be with his wife while she gave birth.
Anyway, better late than never for Big Gabi who played 84 minutes alongside PSG’s Marquinhos before being replaced. There have been some suggestions he went off with an injury – pictures show he had an ice pack on his right thigh – but we’ll have to hope it’s minor.
Neymar overtook Pele as Brazil’s record goalscorer at international level with a brace (he also missed a penalty), Rodrygo grabbed a couple of goals and Raphinha was also on the scoresheet.
Richarlison started the match, didn’t score (there’s a surprise!), and was replaced by Gabriel Jesus in the final minute. It was our man’s first international minutes since limping out of December’s WC group stage clash with Cameroon. Gabriel Martinelli was an unused sub.
Brazil will now travel to Peru for a second qualifier on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, Martin Odegaard played just over an hour as Norway thrashed Jordan 6-0 in a friendly. In Euro 2024 qualifiers, William Saliba was a second half sub as France beat the Republic of Ireland and Jukub Kiwior played a full 90 minutes for Poland as they beat the Faroe Islands; both games ended 2-0.
How is martenelli not starting given current form?
Yeah.. but let’s just keep quiet about that 😉
Vinicius
Injured isn’t he
Rodrygo is really good too. Martinelli has his work cut out for him to start in that team. Best wing depth by far of any NT.
And Richarlison keeps starting like how? Especially over jesus who has more goals in 10 minutes than him in 1000
Same reason Maguire and Phillips are getting picked for England
The relatively few times I have seen Brazil, Richarlison has looked very good. I don’t know if it’s the system, or different teammates, or confidence, but he has been good enough to not lose his place. Like Paul Pogba for France and Man United.
They have a ton of great wings but not a lot of natural CFs. Richarlison himself played most of his career on the flank. They need a CF so Neymar can be the #10 in the 4-2-3-1, and for lack of better options, he starts.
I’m perfectly fine with Gabriel Jesus appearing in the final minute.
Juninho sounds like a monumental bellmo.
Congrats Big Gab – well deserved mate!
Juninho Paulista was such a likeable player as well
For some reason I thought it was Juninho Pernambucano. But no he’s technical director at Lyon (and seemingly having a tough time of it)
One thing taking that stance
… another thing admitting to it
Congrats to Gabby! Pretty worried about the 84th minute substitution though, not typical to sub your centre back at that point unless you’re chasing a game. Not fancying a “just when I thought I was out… they pulled me back in” with Arteta’s back 3 formation, plus Partey may be missing now for 6 weeks 😬
Makes sense to save Jesus and Martinelli for the next game so they can replicate the rotations they do at club level
It’s kind of crazy this was his first cap given he’s been excellent even since before he joined us. Well deserved.
Well, until recently, one of the centre back spots automatically went to Tiago (deservedly, I would say). So a bit tougher to get in the team. Though, you’d think there would still have been enough spots to bring him on. If the story about the reason for his exclusion is true, then Juninho is as much as of a prick as the Spanish FA president.
Lets just say they’re both pricks rather than comparing the sizes of the pricks
His competition consists of Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Eder Militao. That’s a tough group but after those guys I think he is clearly the best option. Thiago must be nearing retirement as well, so many more caps are in his future.
Pleased for Gabby, his performances last season for us certainly merited his debut, from our club view 17 players from our 1st team squad are on international duty, can’t see us getting them all back 100% fit, why play meaningless friendlies also, Saka could do with a rest aswell, he looked awful tonight.