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2022 World Cup Under the Radar Players: Brazil

From Rio de Janeiro to London

First-Timer

We often talk about Neymar, who we chose as Brazil’s top player. We also often talk about Casemiro, Vinicius Junior and Gabriel Jesus, to name a few, but it’s time to give Lucas Paqueta the respect he deserves.

After playing in the Serie A — both the Brazilian and the Italian — and Ligue 1, the 25-year-old recently signed with West Ham United from the English Premier League on a record fee. Regarding the Verde-Amarela, Paqueta was crucial for them to qualify for the 2022 World Cup without losing. Only Neymar and Richarlison scored more goals than him.

Brazil vs Switzerland Betting Props: World Cup 2022 Group G
Brazil vs Switzerland Betting Props: World Cup 2022 Group G

Paqueta’s also one of the main reasons for Brazil to be atop the soccer odds to dethrone France. If you haven’t heard about him, I recommend you keep reading.

Let’s check out the latest World Cup odds & lines. We’ve got plenty of strategies for you to consider before selecting your picks from our odds to win the World Cup list. As well explore a variety of other soccer odds here to win!

Bet on Qatar 2022

Club Career

Lucas Paqueta developed in Flamengo’s youth academy, one of Brazil’s powerhouses. He led the Rubro-Negro to win the 2016 Copa Sao Paulo de Juniores, the most important youth tournament in the South American country.

In March of the same year, he made his debut with the senior team, but he scored his first goal almost one year later. It was against Madureira and Flamengo ended up winning 4-0. He later scored in both the Copa do Brasil and Copa Sudamericana final, but the Rubro-Negro lost to Cruzeiro and Independiente.

In 2018, he was selected as the best left winger of the Campeonato Carioca and was the only player from Flamengo to be chosen. Overall, he played in 95 games for the Brazilian squad and scored 18 goals.

That was more than enough for AC Milan to offer him a multi-year contract, beginning with the 2018-19 season. However, he didn’t meet expectations, playing in 44 games and scoring only one goal. In his second season, he couldn’t score a single goal in 24 games.

Despite not having met expectations with the Rossoneri, Paqueta got a second chance in Europe thanks to Olympique Lyon (Ligue 1). In his first season with the French, he scored 10 goals in 34 games. Last season, he scored 11 goals in 44 games, including two in the UEFA Europa League. Thanks to Lyon, he also became a regular on Brazil’s national team call-ups.

He started the current season with Lyon, but West Ham United knocked on his door and offered him a deal he couldn’t refuse. Paqueta, who can play as No. 10 or No. 8, set a club-record fee when it comes to transfers. In other words, you can expect him to be highly motivated for Qatar 2022. After all, the English Premier League is considered the best in the world.

With the Verde-Amarela

Paqueta almost made it to the 2018 World Cup, but manager Tite decided not to include him in the 23-man squad. Even so, he made his debut with the team that same year in a friendly match against the United States. Less than a year later, he scored his first goal, also in a friendly match against Panama.

He already represented Brazil in two editions of the Copa America, 2019 and 2021. He scored two goals in the most recent, in which Brazil ended up losing to Argentina in the Grand Finale.

As mentioned before, he scored three goals on the road to Qatar 2022. He did it against Paraguay, Colombia and Bolivia. The Verde-Amarela ended up scoring 40 goals and allowing only five. No wonder they’re the betting online favorites to dethrone France at +450.

Brazil in the 2022 World Cup

Brazil is in Group G with Switzerland, Serbia and Cameroon. Only a catastrophe could prevent them from winning it. They’re offering a -225 price in the sportsbook while Switzerland is +450, Serbia +550 and Cameroon +1200.

Unlike Neymar, Richarlison and Junior, Paqueta isn’t among the top candidates to win the Golden Boot. Nevertheless, if any of them want to win it, they must lean heavily on the talented midfielder. Besides drawing a lot of attention from defenders, Paqueta is an assist machine.

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