Palmeiras defender ranks ninth among the world’s best in aerial duels | OneFootball

The defender Gustavo Gómez, captain of Palmeiras, was highlighted in a new survey by the ‘CIES Football Observatory’, which analyzed the performance of players in the main leagues around the world over the last six months.

According to the report, Gómez appears as the 9th best defender in the world in aerial duels, consolidating his status as one of the most dominant and consistent defenders in international football.

With a 92.0 rating, the Paraguayan ranked behind renowned names and is featured on a list led by Virgil van Dijk from Liverpool, followed by young talents like Reitor Huijsen (Real Madrid) and veterans like Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica).

See the list:

Dominance and leadership

Gómez's physical strength, positioning, and game reading continue to be fundamental for Palmeiras' defensive system, under the command of Abel Ferreira, maintaining one of the best defenses in South American football. Besides his defensive efficiency, the captain is also an offensive weapon, being a constant presence in set pieces and aerial plays.

Among European giants

The CIES survey highlights Gómez's importance by placing him among players from elite European clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Benfica — reinforcing the level of excellence of the football presented by the Palmeiras defender.

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