The Santos starlet is ready to step out of Neymar's shadow having grown into a leading role at the club and is now set to take the first steps in his international career
Gabriel Barbosa Almeida has grown accustomed to pressure, to the wait of expectation. He’s never known anything else.
He made his professional league debut, for Santos, the same month Neymar left for Spain. The 19-year-old has never shaken off the comparisons to Brazil’s current captain, being asked not only to make his first steps in some sizeable shoes but in a pair that carried the tag of ‘Brazil’s most-wanted’.
(Photo: Santos FC/ Divulgacao)
So why not embrace a name that would leave most teenagers cowering in a dark corner of the Vila Belmiro? ‘Gabigol’ is a young man who faces his goals head on.
He began his Santos career at just 8-years-old after impressing for a local futsal team. He quickly rose through the youth ranks of the club and was called up to represent his country at just fourteen – he has since represented the Selecao at every level, awaiting just his senior team debut.
His debut at club level arrived in a friendly against Gremio Barueri as a 16-year-old in January 2013, coming on a substitute to replace Victor Andre with 15 minutes remaining. "Gabriel, or Gabigol, the new jewel of Santos" said Globo as he trotted out onto the pitch.
His first league appearance was also symbolic of his arrival as the new big fish in the Santos pond, as he pulled on the famous white shirt against Flamengo in what was Neymar’s farewell match. His first goal for the club arrived against Gremio in a 1-0 Copa do Brasil victory that same year.
(Photo: Santos FC/ Divulgacao)
In 2014, the arrival of Leandro Damiao saw Gabigol forced to wait a little long to become a Santos regular but he continued to shine, finishing as the Copa do Brasil’s top scorer with six goals; though he couldn’t steer Santos past Cruzeiro in the semi-finals. He ended the year with 21 goals in all competitions.
But it was 2015 that saw his true emergence as Brazil's next big thing. He was once again the top scorer of Brazil’s cup competition, this time netting eight goals, including one in the first-leg of the final against Palmeiras as his side ultimately fell to their local rivals on penalties. At just 19-years-old he is already Santos’ leading scorer in the competition.
(Photo: Santos FC/ Divulgacao)
Now wearing Pele’s famous no.10 on his back, last month he became the third-youngest player to reach a half-century of goals for Santos, behind only the King himself and the legendary Coutinho.
"It has always been my dream to play for Santos," he said. "To accomplish that and score 50 goals for the club is something wonderful."
This year saw the teenager's form rewarded with his first call-up to the senior Brazil side when he was once again asked to replace Neymar, this time in Dunga’s squad for the World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.
(Photo: Getty Images)
The teenager is now Santos’ leading protagonist, leading the attack together with veteran Brazil international Ricardo Oliveira. And his star continues to rise.
Last week Gabigol was named in Dunga’s preliminary 40-man squad for the Copa America and he is also set to take centre-stage alongside his idol Neymar at the Rio Olympics in August.
"The Olympics is my biggest dream,” hed told Globo.
“For the competition, the venue (Rio de Janeiro), to being alongside Neymar. It is a medal that Brazil has never won. I want to be part of this special moment.”
He's already had a few special moments. It was he who avenged 2015’s Copa do Brasil defeat to Palmeiras this year, netting both goals in the local state championship semi-final before his team-mates secured penalty shootout revenge at the Vila Belmiro.
Quick, decisive in front of goal, dynamic, tricky in one vs one situations and with a sharp eye for a pass, he has all the qualities now desired by contemporary European scouts.
Much like Neymar did, Gabigol has thus far resisted the lure of the big time in Europe, notably rejecting the offer a high-profile move to Turkish football.
(Photo: Santos FC/ Divulgacao)
“There’s been a continuous evolution since I [became a professional],” he said.
“I want to improve. I want to improve at everything. Improve and fix. I want to be the best in everything.”
Santos will be hard-pressed to keep hold of their starlet for much longer, however, and a strong showing at the Olympics will only drive more interest from across the Atlantic.
Gabriel Barbosa’s future remains uncertain. But there is little doubt it will include a major role with the Selecao for many years to come.
..... - Goal