Who is Douglas Santos?
The Brazilian national team has a new reinforcement for the 2026 World Cup: Douglas Santos. The Zenit left-back was born in João Pessoa, Paraíba, on March 22, 1994.
Douglas Santos started playing futsal and was out of action for over a year after suffering a femur fracture. Despite the injury, he persisted in the sport.
How did Douglas Santos start in football?
After being rejected by Corinthians, Douglas Santos participated in a selection process for Náutico and secured a spot in the club's youth categories in late 2011.
At the beginning of the 2012 Pernambuco Championship, coach Waldemar Lemos decided to observe young players from the base and gave the left-back an opportunity. Douglas played three games in the state championship and scored a goal.
Passage through Europe and arrival at Atlético-MG
In July 2013, Douglas Santos was announced by Granada, Spain. Shortly after, on the last day of the transfer window, he was signed by Udinese, Italy.
The return to Brazilian football occurred in August 2014, when Atlético-MG agreed to loan the left-back for a season. The Minas Gerais club set the purchase value at three million euros.
Titles and awards
Douglas Santos was an Olympic champion with the Brazilian national team in 2016. In addition, he received the Silver Ball and was elected to the Brazilian Championship team after a great performance in the national competition.
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Olympic Champion |
| 2015 | Silver Ball |
The 2026 World Cup, which will be played between June and July in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, marks a new cycle for the Brazilian national team. With Douglas Santos' experience, the Brazilian team is seeking an unprecedented title in the World Cup.
