If the prize for the best sock in the GLOBO selection was awarded during a Christmas gift exchange between family members, it would probably be given out to cries of “marmalade!” After all, Flamengo’s Arrascaeta is a more than obvious winner. The Uruguayan was not only the main player in his position in the Brazilian Championship, but also the great highlight of the country and South America in 2025. It is even possible that he overtakes Lionel Messi for the King of America award, from El País — Adrian Martínez, from Racing-ARG, is the other finalist.
The 25 goals, 20 assists and the Libertadores, Brasileirão, Supercopa and Campeonato Carioca titles sum up the best season of the number 10’s career. And what made it all possible was the special schedule Arrascaeta was subjected to at the start of the year, after undergoing arthroscopic surgery at the end of last year. Designed by Filipe Luís’ technical committee and the medical department, the schedule aimed to keep the midfielder fit in the decisive moments of 2024. And it worked.
Brasileirão’s vice-scorer and main server, Arrascaeta was also responsible for Danilo’s cross in the Libertadores final and the two goals in the 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul in the Intercontinental Cup debut. In the semi-final, two more passes for teammates to score.
All of this qualified him to receive virtually every possible vote from GLOBO Sports editorial reporters.
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If Arrascaeta is the bow and arrow of Flamengo, the other two winners are the maestros of their teams. The first, from the red and black team itself, is Jorginho. Recruited on the eve of the Club World Cup, he quickly won over supporters with his good mobility to mount and disarm and the now traditional penalty preceded by a jump.
Matheus Pereira, from Cruzeiro, is in third place. The 16 goals scored in 51 matches this year, an average of around one in three matches, do not represent the importance of the number 10 for the fluidity of the Minas Gerais team’s play. Just like with Leonardo Jardim, it is a fact that Matheus will be a fundamental piece for the team that will be coached by Tite next season and will have the responsibility of looking for bigger flights than third place in the Brasileirão 2025.
A scoring midfielder for both teams, Pulgar and Lucas Romero round out the top 5. Although they are not as important in offensive terms, they are tasked with defending the areas of the Brasileirão’s two best defenses, which sums up some of their importance.
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