How Gabigol ended Santos’ No nine crisis over the past two seasons | OneFootball

Gabigol has re-energised Santos’ centre-forward role in the first half of the year after a flat spell at Cruzeiro. According to Globo.com, the forward has rediscovered his form at the club that developed him. He has 14 goals and seven assists in 27 appearances.

That return already tops his Cruzeiro output and matches last year’s club-leading total, when Guilherme scored 14 in 48 games.

He moved to 98 Santos goals by scoring against Vitória in the final match before the World Cup pause, third this century behind Robinho on 111 and Neymar on 156.

He is closing on his 2023 Flamengo mark of 20, though still far from his 2019 peak of 43 goals and 12 assists in 59 games.

His surge has eased a long-running No nine issue. Since Marcos Leonardo left after the 2023 season, Santos cycled through 11 options, and none reached 10 goals. Guilherme led the scoring in 2024 and 2025 from the left wing with 13 and 14.

In 2024 the role went to William Bigode, Julio Furch, Alfredo Morelos and Wendel Silva. Bigode delivered seven goals and six assists, Furch scored six, Morelos had four and four, and Wendel four and two.

Two academy players were also tried. Luca Meirelles featured in two late Série B matches, and the Bolivian Enzo Monteiro appeared only in the opener against Paysandu. Neither scored.

Source: Globo.com