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Brazil are one of the top footballing nations in the world. The Selecao have won a record five FIFA World Cups and nine Copa America titles.
Brazilian players are widely renowned for their flair and finesse on the ball, a trait which is also evident in defenders and even goalkeepers. Unsurprisingly, Brazilian players ply their trade for big clubs in some of the top leagues in the world.
The Selecao have performed well this year, reaching the Copa America final and eventually losing to Argentina. Brazil sizzled in the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers, sealing their place in Qatar with a whopping five games to go. Needless to say, many Brazilian players have performed well in major European leagues this year as well.
On that note, here's a look at the five best Brazilian players this year:
#5 Ederson (Manchester City/Brazil)
Ederson is one of the finest ball-playing goalkeepers in the game. The 28-year-old has been a key performer for club and country, especially this year.
The Manchester City custodian kept 11 clean sheets in the league this year to help Pep Guardiola's men to their third Premier League title in four years. The Brazilian has kept up his imperious form this campaign too.
Ederson's 10 clean sheets have helped the holders get to the top of the league table. However, he failed to keep one in five Champions League games this season.
Nevertheless, Ederson has also enjoyed a fruitful campaign with Brazil. He has kept three clean sheets in their successful World Cup qualification campaign. Ederson also kept as many clean sheets at Copa America 2021. However, he failed to keep one in the final, which Brazil lost 1-0 to Argentina.
#4 Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid/Brazil)
Vinicius Junior is one of the most talented young Brazilian players in the game at the moment.
After taking his time to get going at Real Madrid, the 21-year-old winger has exploded into life this season. He scored only six times across competitions last campaign, but Vinicius has already doubled that tally midway through this season. The Brazilian has also registered five assists in La Liga and four in the Champions League this campaign.
In the process, Vinicius has become the first player born in 2000 or later to score 10 league goals in a Spanish top-flight campaign. And Vinicius is far from done this season as he eyes his first major title in European football.
However, the Brazilian has failed to recreate his imperious club form in international football. In four games apiece in World Cup qualifiers and Copa America, Vinicius failed to provide a goal contribution.
#3 Eder Militao (Real Madrid/Brazil)
Eder Militao, like Vinicius, is one of the most talented young Brazilian players in the game at the moment.
The 23-year-old, a centre-back by trade, has come into his own for Real Madrid after the departures of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane this summer. Militao has featured in all but one of Madrid's 18 league games this season, making his presence felt at both ends.
Militao has also featured prominently for Brazil this year. He contributed one goal across six FIFA World Cup qualifiers and five Copa America 2021 games. Although he hasn't won a title this year, he is on course to win his second La Liga title in three years.
#2 Neymar (PSG/Brazil)
Neymar is arguably the most skilled player in the game after his good friend and Paris Saint-Germain teammate Lionel Messi.
The 29-year-old has had a lukewarm campaign in club football this year. He scored 16 goals across competitions last campaign as PSG failed to win Ligue 1 or the Champions League. Neymar has netted only thrice in 14 games across competitions this season
However, the Brazilian has been a different beast in international football. He has scored six goals across FIFA World Cup qualifiers and 2021 Copa America. However, Neymar failed to score in his last four games at the latter tournament, where Brazil lost to Argentina in the final.
Nevertheless, the PSG man is now only seven strikes away from becoming Selecao's joint-most prolific scorer with Pele (77).
Neymar will hope to have a better club-football campaign in the second half of the season as the star-studded PSG team seek silverware in multiple competitions.
#1 Marquinhos (PSG/Brazil)
Marquinhos has arguably been the best Brazilian player for club and country this year.
The 27-year-old has been a leader at the back for PSG since the departure of his compatriot Thiago Silva to Chelsea last summer. A goalscoring centre-back, Marquinhos is a big-game player.
Earlier this year, the Brazilian became only the third player in Champions League history to score in the quarter-finals and semi-finals in successive editions.
But the Ligue 1 giants failed to win the continental competition on both occasions. The PSG captain will hope he and his team are third-time lucky.
Marquinhos has also featured prominently for Brazil this year. He scored once in six games in the 2021 Copa America. He also featured in seven games this year in Brazil's successful FIFA World Cup 2022 qualification campaign, scoring once.
