Hill gem: Andrey shines in youth ranks, eyes place in Renato's Vasco | OneFootball

Vasco’s youth academy continues to produce major talents for Brazilian football. One of the standout names of the current crop is forward Andrey Fernandes, who has been drawing huge attention from the coaching staff at the start of the season thanks to his impressive performances with the Under-20 team. The youngster has become the club’s outright top scorer in 2026 and currently ranks as the second-leading scorer in the Brazilian Championship for the category, enjoying a great run of form and firmly establishing himself as one of the biggest prospects at the Rio club.

The youngster’s brilliant form is backed up by impressive numbers on the pitch. Andrey has scored eight goals in just 12 official matches for Vasco this season, showing great consistency as a finisher. The striker’s remarkable record is reflected in the standings of the Brasileirão and the Carioca Under-20 Championship, where the gem has failed to score in only one match in the category so far this sporting calendar.

+ Andrey Fernandes shines in Vasco’s youth ranks and emerges as a candidate to become the new Rayan

Development, titles, and the Brazilian National Team

His current form in front of goal highlights the striker’s clear development compared to the football he showed last season. In 2025, the talent developed at São Januário played 40 matches for Vasco, contributing 19 goals and 3 assists, posting an excellent average of 0.55 direct goal contributions per game.

During that same successful period, he won the Under-17 Copa do Brasil, finishing the knockout tournament as its outright top scorer despite only joining halfway through the competition. To crown his development at Vasco, he won the prestigious South American Under-17 Championship wearing the shirt of the Brazilian National Team and also lifted the Carioca Under-20 Championship trophy, in addition to being officially called up for the Under-17 World Cup.

The youngster has been making the difference and recently tormented Vasco’s archrival – Photo: João Gabriel Alves / Vasco da Gama

Opportunities with Vasco’s first team

Amid so much recognition in the youth ranks, Andrey has also been closely monitored and has already received some valuable opportunities to train with Vasco’s senior squad. The highly promising player was included in the matchday squad by the previous coaching staff for four senior-team matches, taking the field against Mirassol in the opening round of Brazil’s top division. The striker remains fully focused on maintaining his outstanding performances in youth competitions so he can continue to be closely watched by the current coaching staff led by Renato Gaúcho.

Vasco’s Under-20 team returns to action in the Brazilian Championship for the category next Thursday (02), at 3 p.m., for a tough and exciting national clash against Cruzeiro.

+ Follow Papo na Colina on social media: Thread, Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Google News.

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