Igor Jesus (right) scored the only goal to help Botafogo beat PSG - Photo: REUTERS
On the morning of June 20, Botafogo Club created the first earthquake in the tournament when it defeated European champions PSG 1-0. It was a surprising result. However, for those who know, this is still a predictable result.
According to Transfermarkt, Botafogo's total squad value is 163 million euros, only about 1/7 of PSG's. But don't be too quick to assume that PSG has overwhelming strength over Botafogo. Player value is a measure set by European football. The more players play in Europe's top leagues, the higher their value.
And so, Brazilian clubs always represent something wild, unpredictable, and a bit mysterious about top-level football. Which football is the most powerful in the world ? The answer will only revolve around Spain, France or England - football nations with comprehensive development. But if we only look at it from the perspective of producing players, Brazil is the top name.
Indeed, no country can produce so many football players for... other countries. Brazilian players are abundant in the squads of the UAE, China, Qatar. This shows the abundance of talent in Brazil. There are many stars in Brazil, just go to Europe, their value will immediately increase many times. A typical example is the hero in Botafogo's victory over PSG - Igor Jesus. This 24-year-old striker used to play football in the UAE for a while. But then he chose to return home instead of going to Europe because not everyone who plays well will find a suitable destination in Europe.
Marlon Freitas, the captain midfielder of Botafogo, who also caused Vitinha to "turn off the lights", has spent 10 years of his career only attached to domestic football. Freitas is now 30 years old, satisfied with life at Botafogo and has no chance to go to Europe. But if he had been really determined 5-6 years ago, it is not certain that current star midfielders like Ederson, Luiz, Guimares would have been more famous than him.
Brazilian football is like that, with the anecdotes that any boy in the slums can be the "new Neymar". But only a few are strong enough to set foot on flights to Europe, the rest choose their home country because they are unable to integrate into a different environment. But in a fair match, they will show European superstars that Brazil is still the world's leading football nation with hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/brazil-van-la-ong-vua-cua-lang-bong-da-20250621102612162.htm
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