The countdown to the World Cup already sets the pace for those still looking for a place on the final list. Arthur Augusto entered this decisive sprint with an asset that was difficult to ignore. The Bayer Leverkusen right-back reappeared ahead of schedule after a syndesmosis injury to his left ankle, suffered against Mainz on February 28, and returned to the field in the victory over Cologne. More than anticipating his return, he put his name back in the attempt for a place on the side of the national team.
Present in the first call of the 2026 cycle, Arthur had a season that helped support this candidacy. Before the injury, he accumulated minutes, offensive participation and confidence at a high level within a competitive squad. The interruption, however, came at a sensitive moment in the cycle.
“I’m very happy to have had such a brief return, to have broken expectations. It was the result of a lot of work from me, the club, my performance manager. I was already in very good physical condition before the injury, my body was prepared. And even during this process, I didn’t drop the ball, I continued working hard”, he says.
The initial protocol indicated up to . He returned in six, after transforming the routine into an almost complete rehabilitation process.
With no room for shortcuts, Arthur gave up and started dividing his days into three work periods. Sessions at the club were complemented by activities at home, with close monitoring from their personal staff and integration with Leverkusen’s medical department. The idea was not just to speed up the return, but to guarantee real conditions to compete.
“I worked three periods, in the morning at the club, in the afternoon and at night at home. I gave up the FIFA Data day off to focus on this. I focused 100% of my time on recovering to get back well, not just returning for the sake of returning. When I returned to training with the group, I felt good, confident, and that made me very happy”, he explains.
Even during the process, he managed to keep his physical levels under control, with a low percentage of fat and gain in muscle mass, as well as good speed and power indicators in the tests.
The return, however, is not limited to numbers. Readapting to the game brings its own challenges, especially after weeks away from competitive intensity.
“Now it’s time to get back into the rhythm of the game, which is normal. Being out for a while makes you lose that rhythm, because the game is completely different from training. But I feel good, prepared, regaining confidence. Sometimes you still train with pain, but you get over it, getting used to it. It’s a natural process”, he summarizes.
If the body responded, the mental part needed to be worked on with the same rigor. Arthur uses psychological support as part of his routine and does not hide the initial impact of the injury.
“It was a cold shower. I was on a very good streak, hoping to have a new opportunity in the national team. But these are things that can happen at any time. I tried to focus on what I could control, on recovery, on the good things, to return as soon as possible and well prepared”, he says.
The scenario on the right side of the Seleção remains open, especially in a cycle marked by tests and changes. Arthur follows along, but avoids turning this into external pressure.
“My dream of being in the national team is still alive. I will work tirelessly for it. And if it doesn’t happen now, I won’t be frustrated. I will continue preparing for the next cycle, because it’s a big dream to represent Brazil”, he says.
The experience with the national team began to take shape in 2023, with participation in a friendly against Morocco and presence in youth competitions. Since then, the objective has become to consolidate space amidst the competition.
The trajectory to European football helps explain the recent consistency. Born in Belo Horizonte, Arthur spent time at the bases of Cruzeiro and América-MG and experienced leaving home early. The change brought responsibilities off the field and accelerated his maturation.
“It was the first time I left home, I went to live in a training center, then with other athletes. I had the responsibility of paying rent, making purchases, taking care of the house. I was weaker, I didn’t have as much strength, but I never gave up, I always had an open mind to learn and listen”, he recalls.
The breakthrough came in the 2023 U20 South American Championship, when the performance caught the attention of European clubs and paved the way for a transfer to Leverkusen.
In Germany, the initial impact was absorbed with rapid adaptation. The more physical and intense game required changes in the way we act and think about the game. Arthur went from being just a full-back to also acting as a winger.
“It’s much faster, more physical football, you need to think very quickly. At first I felt this difference, but I adapted. In Brazil I was a full-back by trade, here I play more as a winger, and that adds to my game. I can play on both sides, I’m ambidextrous, so that also helps”, he explains.
Regarding the Selection, the speech is about respect for decisions, but with clear ambition.
“Ancelotti is a very experienced coach, he has an incredible history. I believe he knows what he is doing. My role is to continue delivering my best, in training, in games, in my diet, in my rest. When the opportunity arises, I want to be prepared to do well and earn my place”, he states.
Off the field, adapting to life in Germany still has contrasts with Brazil. Longing appears in simple everyday details.
“The main thing is cheese bread. A miner can’t live without it”, he jokes. “And there’s the fact that on Sunday everything is closed. I still haven’t gotten used to it. You think about doing something at the last minute and you can’t do it. And the cold too, every year I think I’m prepared, but I never am.”
Between discipline and expectation, Arthur enters the final stretch of the cycle trying to transform an unlikely return into a concrete argument for a place.
