Meet Palmeiras midfielder called up by Brazil after position switch | OneFootball

Midfielder João Paulo’s first call-up to the Brazil National Team marks a new chapter in the Palmeiras player’s journey. At 19, the youngster was called up by coach Paulo Victor Gomes as a midfielder for the Brazil Under-20 team’s two friendlies against Bolivia in August.

Before making the national team list, however, João Paulo had to go through an important change in his development. The youngster played as a center back for practically his entire time in the youth ranks of Verdão and remained in defense until the Under-17 level.

The transformation happened in the transition to the Under-20s. After moving up a level, João Paulo began to be used in midfield by then-coach Lucas Andrade, who is currently part of Paulo Victor Gomes’ staff with the Brazil National Team, and earned more playing time as a defensive midfielder, the position in which he found consistency.

In defense, João built a title-winning career in Palmeiras’ academy. Born in Jaú, in the countryside of São Paulo state, João Paulo has been at Palmeiras since 2018, when he joined the Under-11s. Among his main trophies as a defender are titles in every age group from Under-11 to Under-17: the Brazilian Under-17 Championship (2023), the Paulista Under-15 Championship (2022), the Copa Cidade Verde Under-11, the Taça Brasil de Campo Bom Under-13, the Copa Umbro Under-14, and the TSFC Under-15 Festival.

With the Under-20s, the youngster won the 2025 Brazilian Under-20 Championship in his first year at that level. In 2026, Verdão is still alive in both that competition and the Paulista Championship for the age group.

Photo: Fábio Menotti

How João Paulo plays

The defensive midfielder is 1.81 m tall, right-footed, and turned 19 in February. A ball-playing center back with a good pass, he was moved into midfield in 2025 by coach Lucas Andrade and earned regular minutes. In total, he played 26 matches and scored one goal last year.

If he were still playing as a center back, João Paulo would be the shortest player in that position in Palmeiras’ Under-20 squad. Of the current 11 center backs in the Under-20 roster, only Luiz Santana, at 1.84 m, is under 1.85 m tall.

Although he mostly takes the field as a holding midfielder wearing the No. 5 shirt, João has also played some matches in 2026 as a center back. In the Brazilian Championship quarterfinals against Corinthians, the youngster partnered Ivorian Koné in the 3-1 win that secured the team a place in the semifinals.

This season, João has already made 30 appearances — starting 21 times — and has also found the net once, in addition to providing one assist.

Palmeiras quintet called up

João Paulo is one of five Palmeiras players included in the Brazil National Team squad announced this Tuesday (28). Goalkeeper Kauan Lima, midfielder Luis Pacheco, and forwards Erick Belé and Heittor were also called up. The list includes 24 players.

The friendlies against Bolivia will be played on August 9 and 12 at Granja Comary, in Teresópolis. The matches are part of Brazil’s preparation for the South American Under-20 Championship, scheduled for January 2027.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.