Doha: Rodrygo is a complete striker: the 21-year-old Brazilian can play on the left, right, number 10 or as a false nine.
And after his decisive second-half performance against Switzerland on Monday, he looks well set to earn his first start for the Seleção, perhaps even in Neymar’s playmaker role.
Substitute Rodrigo set up Casemiro’s last goal in their 1–0 win against the Swiss, which was followed by a 2–0 win against Serbia in their first match of the World Cup.
Brazil have already qualified for the last 16 ahead of their final Group G match against Cameroon on Friday and coach Tite is likely to change as Neymar is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained in their opening match.
Casemiro believes Rodrigo, who plays for Real Madrid, has the talent to become Brazil’s next big star.
“Football is God’s gift to him. It’s great to watch him play,” the Manchester United midfielder, who played alongside Rodrigo in Madrid, said last week.
The five-time World Cup winners have an embarrassment of riches in the attacking department, even with Neymar injured and Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho out of the squad.
Rafinha, Antony, Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Pedro and Richardson are all providing competition for Rodrigo.
But the youngest player in Tite’s World Cup squad has a huge advantage over the others.
“We have seen him playing as Real Madrid’s false nine, a 10, a ‘Neymar’ with the ability to play left and right,” Matheus Bachi, Brazil’s assistant coach who is also Tite’s son, recently said in.
“He’s a chameleon, but a chameleon that does all these things very well.”
This versatility was evident when Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti began deploying Rodrigo in the center of attack alongside striker Karim Benzema, rather than using his pace on the flanks.
“He is a special forward, he can play in every position. He is quick, intelligent off the ball and effective one on one,” Ancelotti said.
Rodrigo has seven goals and five assists in 19 club appearances this season.
His two late goals for Real in the Champions League semi-final against Manchester City last season turned the match on its head and the Merengue lifted the trophy.
– ‘very smart’ –
Rodrigo’s versatility was well known at his first club, Santos – the same team that groomed Pele and Neymar.
He played as number 10 in the academy but made his first team debut in 2017 on the left wing.
Neymar used to play on the left before moving back to a more central position in 2017. Jair Ventura, who handed Rodrigo his Santos debut, decided to develop his abilities “on the right, in the center and as a false nine”. . he told ESPN in 2019.
The ability to play across the forward line has served Rodrygo well.
His performances soon alerted Real Madrid and he moved to Spain in 2019.
“He is very professional and educated. He is very smart, you explain something to him once and he understands immediately,” said Ventura, son of former 1970 World Cup winner Jorginho with Pelé.
Rodrygo has made nine appearances since making his Brazil debut three years ago, but all as a substitute.
He scored a goal in a 4–0 World Cup qualifying win over Paraguay and now has an assist to his credit.
And he has no doubt that he can fill the void left by Neymar.
“I feel comfortable playing every position up front. I’ve already played with the number 10 jersey in the juniors, but recently (senior) coaches have started putting me there,” Rodrigo said recently. Told.
“Neymar, we already have our number 10, but who knows about the future.”
The future can happen now.