Brazil needed help and so it was. The Tottenham player, Richarlison, who opened the dances or the samba in Brazil-Serbia took care of it. Two goals, but the second was wonderful against Serbia in a closed game where Raphinha missed at least two easy chances…

The Tottenham striker who played as a fake center forward got his foot hot on the two occasions that led to the two goals, but that gesture like Ibrahimovic was once something wonderful. Tite, the Brazil coach, was right, believing in him…

RICHARLISON GOAL – VIDEO

He began his professional career with América Mineiro in 2015, winning promotion from the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in his only season before transferring to Fluminense. He totalled 67 matches and 19 goals in his two years there, and was named in the Team of the Season when the club finished as runners-up in the 2017 Campeonato Carioca.

He then signed for Watford, and a year later Everton. He later signed for Tottenham Hotspur in 2022. At international level, Richarlison made his senior debut for Brazil in 2018. He was a member of the team that won the 2019 Copa América, came runners-up at the 2021 Copa América and won a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic tournament.

On 1 July 2022, Tottenham Hotspur announced the signing of Richarlison on a contract until 2027, subject to a work permit for a fee of £50m plus £10m in potential add-ons from Everton. Richarlison gained his first assist for his new club in a 2–0 win against Nottingham Forest on 20 August.

Richarlison’s showboating during that match was widely discussed in the media, being criticised by the likes of Michail Antonio and Callum Wilson as “disrespectful,” but praised by Neil Warnock, who encouraged Richarlison to continue entertaining fans. On 7 September, on his Champions League debut, he scored both goals in a 2–0 win over Marseille at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, his first goals for the club.

“I did odd jobs to help the family – said the owner of the green-and-gold national team –. One day a drug trafficker got it into his head that I was loitering around the favela aiming to steal his role as drug dealer. He pointed a gun at my temple: he didn’t just shoot me because I convinced him that I was actually playing football and was going to train with my friends in the neighbourhood. It went well for me, many of my peers are no longer here, they died very young…” Tonight Richarlison was partners with Neymar against the Serbs. Less dangerous than the favela people…