Igor Jesus (right) scored the only goal to help Botafogo win against PSG - Photo: REUTERS
On the morning of June 20th, Botafogo caused the first major upset of the tournament by defeating European champions PSG 1-0. It was a surprising result. However, for those in the know, this was still a predictable outcome.
According to Transfermarkt, Botafogo's squad is valued at €163 million, only about one-seventh of PSG's. But don't be quick to assume PSG has overwhelming strength over Botafogo. Player value is a measure set by European football. The higher a player's league in Europe, the higher their value.
And so, Brazilian clubs have always represented something wild, unpredictable, and even a little... mysterious about top-level football. Which footballing nation is the most powerful in the world ? The answer would revolve around Spain, France, or England – nations with comprehensively developed football. But if we only look at it from the perspective of producing players, Brazil is the top name.
Indeed, no other country can produce so many football players for... other nations. Brazilian players are abundant in the squads of the UAE, China, and Qatar. This shows the abundance of talent in Brazil. There are many stars in Brazil whose value would instantly increase many times over if they moved to Europe. A prime example is the hero of Botafogo's victory against PSG - Igor Jesus. The 24-year-old striker once played in the UAE for a while. But he chose to return home instead of going to Europe because not everyone who plays well will find a suitable club in Europe.
Marlon Freitas, Botafogo's captain and midfielder who also neutralized Vitinha, spent 10 years of his career playing in domestic football. Freitas, now 30 years old, is content with his life at Botafogo and no longer has a chance to move to Europe. But if he had been truly determined 5-6 years ago, it's uncertain whether current star midfielders like Ederson, Luiz, and Guimares would be more famous than him.
Brazilian football is like that, with legends that any boy in the slums could be the "new Neymar." But only a select few are strong enough to board flights to Europe; the rest choose their homeland because they can't adapt to a different environment. However, in a fair match, they will show European superstars that Brazil remains a footballing nation with hidden talents, the best in the world.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/brazil-van-la-ong-vua-cua-lang-bong-da-20250621102612162.htm
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