Top three Brazil players to watch out for against India
The Selecao will face India in Kolkata on October 3rd.
Brazil, the five-time World Cup champions, are currently on an Asian tour during the September–October 2026 international window. They have arrived in India for their final friendly following the conclusion of their two matches against Australia in Brisbane and Townsville.
The Selecao are now in Kolkata for what was initially planned as an opportunity to thank Indian fans for their unwavering support for the Brazilian national team.
The arrival of Brazil’s players on Indian soil is a huge occasion in itself. Carlo Ancelotti’s side are set to make it even more special for Indian football fans by facing the mighty Blue Tigers in a historic clash at the VYBK Stadium on October 3, 2026, at 19:30 IST.
The hosts, Khalid Jamil’s side, are coming off a result for the record books, having held 44th-ranked Panama to a 1-1 draw despite being ranked 138th themselves. While the draw was an unbelievable result and should have felt like a win, it felt more like a missed opportunity for many fans. All given the number of big chances India created in the final third.
Brazil, on the other hand, began their Australian tour with a disappointing result, narrowly avoiding defeat against the hosts. Rayan rescued his nation that night, scoring a 90+5th-minute stoppage-time equaliser to save the Selecao from a major upset.
In the second game, despite their defensive frailties in the first half, when they conceded twice after scoring twice themselves, the Selecao found the net twice more after the break to secure a 4-2 victory.
As expected, this is an enormous uphill task for the Indian national team. At least on paper, given that they are facing a World Cup-playing nation ranked fifth in the FIFA global rankings.
However, the game against Panama has given Indian fans a little hope. Some might call it delusional, but sometimes, a little delusion is exactly what football fans need to believe that their country and its players can pull off something special against the giants of world football.
As the two nations prepare for their first-ever meeting, let’s take a look at three Brazilian stars who could give Khalid Jamil and his side a serious headache. In truth, all eleven players could prove to be a handful.
Brazilian players to watch out for against India
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Gabriel Magalhães
The second-most experienced defender in Brazil’s current defensive set-up, Gabriel’s career arc since his move to Arsenal has been astonishing.
From being an excellent defender in Ligue 1 to becoming one of the best in Europe and establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet under Carlo Ancelotti, Gabriel’s rise over the last four years has been an inspiring one.
Gabriel Magalhães is a defender well known for his physicality and aggression at the back, dominating opposition strikers in both aerial and ground duels. All with his excellent positional awareness and strong physical presence.
Under Mikel Arteta, he has also developed into one of the best ball-playing centre-backs, displaying tremendous composure with the ball at his feet.
However, with Brazil playing a high defensive line and India likely to adopt a low block with quick transitional attacks, Khalid Jamil’s side could have an opportunity to exploit the space behind the Brazilian defense.
If India can find the right pass at the right time, as they did against Panama, they could create goalscoring opportunities against the five-time World Cup champions.
Bruno Guimarães
Bruno Guimarães, the most experienced player in the Brazilian midfield following the omission of Fabinho, Casemiro and Lucas Paqueta – with all three having been key players for the Selecao over the past few years, will have added responsibilities.
He will not only have to showcase his quality in the middle of the park but also marshal his midfield partner and take on a greater leadership role.
Bruno, who recently moved to Arsenal, demonstrated what an exciting player he is during his time at Newcastle United. His strengths include his ability to dictate the tempo from a box-to-box midfield role. All by using his excellent vision to play line-breaking passes and create chances in the final third.
He is also extremely press-resistant and possesses the knack for making crucial defensive recoveries to win the ball back.
Overall, Ricky Shabong and Apuia are expected to face a tough challenge, both in intercepting Bruno’s passes and in tracking his movements in the middle of the park.
Also Read: India vs Brazil Preview, team news, lineups | International Friendly
VinÃcius Júnior
When Brazil’s squad for the friendly against India was announced, the prospect of the visitors fielding a front three comprising VinÃcius Júnior, Joao Pedro and Raphinha looked frightening.
However, Joao Pedro withdrew from the squad with an injury even before the national team camp began. Meanwhile, Raphinha suffered an injury in the previous game against Australia. With both forwards unavailable, all eyes are now on VinÃcius Júnior, who is no stranger to scoring goals in India.
During his U-17 days, he scored four goals and won the Golden Boot at the 2016 BRICS Cup, which was held in Goa. He even scored against India U-17, a side that featured only Apuia from the current senior national team set-up.
The Real Madrid winger has endured a relatively quiet spell in front of goal at club level this season. However, his goalscoring record for the national team over the last few months has been astonishing. Nine goal contributions in his last 10 appearances, including a penalty in Brazil’s recent friendly against Australia.
His ability to dribble past full-backs in both tight and open spaces, cut inside and score spectacular goals, turn quick transitions into goalscoring opportunities, and deliver dangerous passes to set up his teammates makes him a constant threat.
Put all those qualities together, and it means just one thing: Tekcham Abhishek Singh is in for a very, very long night.
Where are Brazil ranked in the FIFA world rankings?
Brazil are currently ranked 5th in the FIFA world rankings.
When is India vs Brazil scheduled to kick off?
The match between India and Brazil will take place on 03rd October at 19:30 IST at the VYBK Stadium in Kolkata.
Which club does Bruno Guimarães play for?
Bruno Guimarães currently plays for Premier League champions Arsenal following his move away from Newcastle United this summer.
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