Luis Pacheco, 17, impresses in Palmeiras win over Santos | OneFootball

Seventeen-year-old midfielder Luis Pacheco caught the eye as Palmeiras beat Santos 1-0 in the Paulistão. Wearing 58, he came on in the second half and impressed with timely tackles and a high level of play.

According to Nosso Palestra, the youth standout skipped the Copinha to join Abel Ferreira’s first-team group at the start of the season.

With Aníbal Moreno sold to River Plate, the Verdão have only Emiliano Martínez for the holding role. The staff turned to the academy and selected Luis Pacheco, who had barely featured even for the Under-20s. His leap past the final youth stage is one not even Endrick or Estêvão took.

Captain of the Under-17s, he has 17 games and three goals this season, plus three outings for the Under-20s.

Although primarily a holding midfielder, he is viewed as capable of breaking forward and can operate as a number 8, a common trait in the club’s academy.

He recently renewed his contract until September 2028 with a release clause of 100 million euros, R$ 631 million, for foreign clubs. He has been at Palmeiras since 2020, when he was 12. Across the youth ranks he has lifted four trophies, including Brasileirão Under-20 titles in 2024 and 2025 and the 2023 Paulista Under-15. Larson, a standout for the Under-20s, is also catching the eye with the senior team.

Source: Nosso Palestra