The Santos man will have a huge responsibility to protect his back four as the only specialist defensive midfielder in coach Rogerio Micale's side
Thiago Maia arrived at Santos as a 13-year-old, dreaming of nothing more than making it as a pro.
His rise through the ranks at a club with such a storied past of promoting youth was rapid and he made his professional debut at 17, against Chapecoense in the Brazilian first division.
Having already shown his star quality in the youth teams of both club and country, he arrived in the senior side facing some big expectations.
The teenager wasted little time following his promotion, graduating into a bonafide first-teamer a little under a year after making his bow.
Pressure is nothing new for Thiago Maia. But for all his experience of rapid ascents to the big-time, never has he experienced anything like the pressure he will be under as Brazil go in search of their first ever Olympic gold medal this month.
Not least because the 19-year-old will carry the defensive burden for a team that will set out to attack its opponents with all 11 players.
There is huge responsibility, then, on the shoulders of the youngest player in the squad. But his tender years certainly haven’t been evident, on or off the pitch as he handled the media with the same assurance with which he has marshalled the midfield.
Strong, athletic, tough-tackling and with the technique to join in the passing game, the teenager is another attracting major interest from Europe and is one of the new breed of Brazlian midfield destroyers as the Selecao seek to turn away from the ‘broken teams’ that have led to a tangible disconnect between defence and attack.
Coach Rogerio Micale has spoken at length about implementing a more holistic approach in which every player can provide the multifunctionality that has been so sorely missing in recent generations, it speaks volumes of his game that Thiago Maia will be thrown in as the last line of protection against counter-attacks.
A tireless runner, he will have his work cut out this month and could prove vital to his team’s chances. Set to be coupled with the silky Renato Augusto in midfield, he will also be asked to help set the rhythm of the side and move forward as an element of surprise in attack.
He instantly formed a strong bond with captain, and former Santos star, Neymar, leading to inevitable rumours of a prospective move to Spanish giants Barcelona in the future.
Thiago Maia has come a long way in short time as a professional footballer. And having chalked off his major ambition, now he is dreaming of gold.
..... - Goal