The Brazilian team needed to change its pieces on the eve of its debut in the 2026 World Cup, this Sunday (7). After the which suffered a injury to the adductor muscle of the left thigh During the friendly against Egypt on Saturday (6), coach Carlo Ancelotti acted quickly. The chosen one to inherit the vacancy in the United States was midfielder Édersonone of the main pillars of Atalanta, in Italy.
Born in Campo Grande (MS), Éderson dos Santos is 26 years old and built a career in football that began at Desportivo Brasil (SP) and gained national recognition playing for Cruzeiro between 2018 and 2019. In 2020, he was hired by Corinthiansbut ended up not finding space and was loaned to Fortalezawhere he helped in the historic achievement of a place in the Copa Libertadores with the club.
With the performance achieved by the Ceará team, Éderson was noticed by the Europeans and, in 2022, he was transferred to Salernitanafrom Italy, and, just six months later, it was purchased by Atalanta. At the new club, he was a fundamental player in the unprecedented title of the Europa League in the 2023/24 season.
In the Selection
Éderson’s call-up for a right-back position creates doubts about how Brazil will structure itself. Although veteran Danilo is the natural replacement for Wesley, the presence of the Atalanta midfielder opens up possibilities for new tactical variations.
In Europe, he has already served as first steering wheel, half-centered and falling to the sidesenabling new alternatives for the midfield. Accustomed to the physical pace of Italian Serie A and European competitions, Éderson still has a intensity profile required in World Cups.
This is not the athlete’s first experience with the yellow jersey. He was part of the team’s recent cycle, adding three official matches under the command of Dorival Júnior, including games against Colombia in the Copa América and Argentina in the qualifiers.
Joining the group at the last minute on American soil, the Mato Grosso native is expected to arrive in the United States on Monday (8). Brazil debuts in the tournament on Saturday (13), against Morocco, with the possibility of having Éderson on the pitch.
