The Brazilian national team has a new standout player in the World Cup: Rayan. The young Bournemouth striker took the starting spot from the injured Raphinha.

What happened?

Luiz Henrique, considered by many to be the 12th player on the roster, lost his spot at the time when he could have secured it. This has an explanation in the daily training sessions. Despite still having the trust of Carlo Ancelotti and being liked by the technical staff and players, Luiz Henrique did not demonstrate a level of competitiveness to deserve a spot in the starting lineup.

Why did this happen?

If the former Botafogo player did not impress in training, Rayan did the opposite and won the position with an intense pace that made Ancelotti and his assistants bet on his entry as a way to give more energy to the team. | Date | Result | | --- | --- | | 2025-11-18 | Brazil 1-1 Tunisia |

What's next?

The competition will continue in the coming days and involve other positions. If Raphinha remains a doubt for the match against Norway, in the round of 16, the trend is that Rayan will remain among the starters, with Luiz Henrique waiting for a chance in the World Cup. Recent form: 2W-1D-1L (DWLW, most recent first).