Young attacking trio is highlight of season

Brasileirão’s top scorer, Kaio Jorge celebrated 21 times with the famous “K”. In addition to his opportunism inside and outside the box, the player also knew how to leave his teammates in a favorable position to score: he finished second in assists (8) in the championship, behind only Flamengo’s Arrascaeta (14).

Alongside Matheus Pereira, Kaio Jorge formed one of the main duos in national football. Coach Leonardo Jardim, who announced Raposa’s departure at the end of the year, took advantage of the creativity of the midfielder and the decision-making power of the center forward to mount an attack in his image: fast and vertical. Although not champions, the team earned a direct place in the Libertadores with third place in the Brazilian Championship and was semi-finalist in the Copa do Brasil.

True to his reputation as a goalscorer, Kaio Jorge deserved his first call-up to the Brazilian national team since he had only played in the youth teams. Before returning to Brazil midway through last year, he played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus, Italy, but suffered serious injuries and was unable to break into European football.

Someone who also “struck and returned” from the Old Continent is Vitor Roque, who finally found his happiness and confidence in Palmeiras. After exploding onto the national scene with Athletico, Tigrinho lived his childhood dream in Barcelona, ​​but suffered from the pressure of one of the biggest clubs in the world and adapting to the Old Continent. After his loan spell at Real Betis, he took “one step back and two steps forward” on his return to Brazilian football.

Just like Kaio Jorge, Vitor Roque was also present on Ancelotti’s list. After all, there have been 19 direct matches – 16 goals and three assists – at the Brasileirão. Under the orders of Abel Ferreira, he and Flaco López fit perfectly into the black and white team in a hitherto “forgotten” tactical pattern: the 4-4-2. Of the 30 goals in 12 games that gave Alviverde the position of Libertadores’ best attack, more than a third came from the Argentine (7) and the Brazilian (4).

The youngest of the young attacking trio, Rayan made his first final at the age of 19. He scored the first goal and started the second goal in the first match of the Brazilian Cup semi-final, against Fluminense, which put Vasco in the decider with Corinthians.

The title did not come, but Rayan’s performance is one of the best news of Vasco’s season. Jewel of the training center, the striker has finally taken off and still seems far from having reached his full potential.

The youngster has scored 20 goals and provided one assist in 57 games for Vasco this season. He finished the Brazilian Cup sharing top scorer with Kaio Jorge (5 goals each) and scored 14 more at the Brasileirão, the same number as Vegetti, with whom he shared Vasco’s top scorer position in the tournament and who won the competition in Fernando Diniz’s team. Rayan started the year as a right winger, but little by little he showed his effectiveness playing in the center.

The young man continues to be monitored by the European giants, while Vasco projects the biggest sale in its history. Earlier this month, the club and the player signed a new contract, until 2028, increasing the dismissal fine to 80 million euros (approximately R$522 million).