Who's hot, who's not? GOAL ranks all 14 teams across the National Women's Soccer League

The NWSL delivered pure chaos, with dramatic finishes such as Jordyn Huitema's bicycle kick, an 100th minute equalizer in Washington and even a goal from veteran goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

Naeher's stoppage-time goal in her 200th career start made her the first NWSL goalkeeper to score from open play. Gotham FC's Esther Gonzalez secured the Golden Boot lead with her 11th goal of the season, despite Gotham ending their unbeaten run. And the San Diego Wave moved up to second place overall.

So, who's leading the pack, and who's falling short of expectations? GOAL presents the latest 2025 NWSL Power Rankings.

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  Utah Royals

  Prior Ranking: 14

  Result: Drew Angel City 0-0

  Ramifications: Utah drew Angel City on Friday night in a fairly even match. Utah still have just one win this season, however they showed some strides offensively with give shots on goal against. Possession-wise,  the Royals were also slightly more successful, holding 55 percent to Angel City's 45 percent.

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  Chicago Stars

  Prior Ranking: 13

  Result: Drew Seattle Reign 3-3

  Ramifications: Monday night "NWSL after dark" did not disappoint, with Chicago and Seattle playing to a 3-3 draw. Chicago displayed a whole new side, thanks to Naeher's finish to secure the extra-time draw. Naeher, longtime goalkeeper for the USWNT, became the first goalkeeper to score in open play in NWSL history.

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  Bay FC

  Prior Ranking: 12

  Result: Lost to San Diego Wave 2-1

  Ramifications: Bay FC were able to keep the Wave from scoring in the first half, but in the second 45 San Diego turned on the jets. Bay FC dropped their seventh match of the season, and now sit in 11th place in the league standings, three spots from the playoff line.

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  Angel City

  Prior Ranking: 9

  Result: Drew Utah Royals 0-0

  Ramifications: Angel City has some super power, but the team is just not clicking offensively. Drawing Utah was a tough result for a team that is barely holding onto a post-season playoff run. Angel City are in 12th place in the league standings. 

Troubled West Ham have reportedly agreed a deal upwards of £40 million for Southampton star Mateus Fernandes as they try to kickstart their season.

West Ham winless so far this seasonOut of Carabao Cup as wellAgree deal for £40m transferFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to BBC Sport, West Ham have agreed a deal in excess of £40m ($54m) for the 21-year-old, who has been granted permission to travel for a medical in London. The midfielder joined Saints from Sporting CP last year for £15m ($20m) when they were in the Premier League, and since then, he has scored four goals and added seven assists in 46 games.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

West Ham have had the worst possible start to the season, losing heavily to Sunderland and Chelsea, and then being dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Wolves in midweek. Pressure is mounting on head coach Graham Potter, fans have criticised the club for a perceived lack of signings, and some players have been slammed for being old and slow. But signing Fernandes, among others, could be the boost that they need.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Portugal Under-21 international, whose current contract with the Championship side runs until 2029, would become West Ham's third-biggest signing, behind Sebastien Haller and Lucas Paqueta – who cost £45m ($60.8m) and £51m ($69m) respectively. 

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In addition to trying to sign Fernandes before the September 1 transfer deadline, the BBC adds that West Ham are hoping to recruit Monaco midfielder Soungoutou Magassi, 21, for around £17m ($23m). The France Under-21 international is expected to have a medical on Thursday. 

Lothar Matthaus believes Jobe Bellingham’s parents’ frustration is 'understandable' after midfielder's early substitution in their Bundesliga opener.

• Bellingham was subbed off at half-time in Dortmund’s opener
• Parents confronted Sebastian Kehl after the game
• German legend says parents' frustration is 'understandable'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 19-year-old midfielder, who arrived from Sunderland this summer on a five-year deal, was taken off at half-time as they started the Bundesliga season with a 3-3 draw at St. Pauli. His parents, Mark and Denise, were unhappy with the decision and confronted sporting director Sebastian Kehl after the game. Dortmund responded the following day, with managing director Lars Ricken stressing that they will ensure only "players, coaches, and any officials have access to the locker room area."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bellingham’s move to Dortmund was one of the most talked-about signings of the summer. Much like his older brother Jude, who became a star at Dortmund before heading to Real Madrid, the teenager is expected to shine in the midfield under Niko Kovac. He arrived after a standout year at Sunderland, where he scored four goals, added three assists, and won the Championship Young Player of the Year award while helping the club earn promotion to the Premier League. 

  His short Bundesliga debut left much to be desired, though, and ex-Germany and Bayern Munich star Matthaus says much of the blame lies with Dortmund and Kovac as he sympathised with the player's parents.

• WHAT LOTHAR MATTHAUS SAID

  Matthaus, in his column for Sky, said that he was confused by Kovac's changes and wonders if the German side know how to fit Bellingham into the midfield, but stressed such confrontations should be kept away from the stadium corridors.

  "Jobe Bellingham's parents caused a stir in the catacombs at BVB," he wrote. "Sebastian Kehl responded with strong words. I understand both sides. Bellingham didn't start in Essen; he's the star signing. I was already asking myself at Dortmund: 'Where are the regulars?'

  "I don't know about Bellingham after the first two competitive matches. Does he have a regular starting place or not? Bellingham himself doesn't know: 'Is the coach counting on me?' Niko Kovac started with Marcel Sabitzer, Pascal Gross and Bellingham in the center at St. Pauli. But then there's Felix Nmecha. For me, those four players are sixes or eights. You can play with one six and two eights, or use [Julian] Brandt at number 10. Bellingham isn't a number 10.

  "His parents manage him and are dissatisfied with his playing time. I understand their point of view. There's some anger, but not where it happened. That shouldn't happen in the catacombs, but rather the next day or the day after in Dortmund behind closed doors in an office belonging to Lars Ricken, Kehl, or Kovac. Nevertheless, Kovac shouldn't constantly make too many substitutions in midfield and attack; he should make a commitment and then put his trust in these players."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

  Dortmund face Union Berlin on Sunday, with eyes on whether Bellingham gets the chance to show why he was signed as a star for the future.

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O Palmeiras conquistou uma vitória difícil em cima do Red Bull Bragantino ao bater o adversário por 2 a 0, com gols de Rony e Breno Lopes. O resultado serviu para manter o time na liderança geral da do Paulistão, mas também para consolidar a boa fase de alguns jogadores, como Gabriel Menino, que tem se firmado cada vez mais como titular de um posição, na teoria, carente no elenco atual.

> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2023 clicando aqui

Em entrevista na zona mista do Allianz Parque, o meio-campista falou no pensamento coletivo que tem tido para poder se manter nesse bom momento. Segundo ele, só está fazendo seu trabalho.

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-Eu acho que só estou fazendo meu trabalho, estou focado nas minhas ações, no que eu tenho que fazer. Não só, mas toda a equipe, como todo mundo está vendo. A gente também se cobra um tanto, eu estou me cobrando o dobro, para que eu continue mantendo a titularidade, fazendo ótimos jogos, não para ajudar a mim mesmo, mas ao Palmeiras continuar a sequência de vitórias.

>Dupla funciona novamente, e Palmeiras vence o RB Bragantino com direito a golaço no fim

Mas não é apenas o foco no trabalho que significou uma virada para Gabriel Menino. Titular do Palmeiras após a saída de Danilo, o volante tem ganhado cada vez mais confiança para fazer sua função e ser importante dentro do time. Para o jovem, méritos também do bom coração de Abel.

-(Abel Ferreira) Ele é nosso professor, nosso guia, nossa mente. Eu tenho certeza que não somente a mim, mas ele ajuda todo mundo. Todo mundo que precisa vai até ele, conversa, pergunta o que precisa e ele fala, com o bom coração que ele tem. Então para mim, acho que ele foi essencial e tenho certeza que a gente vai continuar fazendo nosso melhor e buscando mais vitórias.

Por fim, Menino falou de sua parceria com Zé Rafael no meio-campo, talvez a grande novidade de Abel Ferreira para a temporada. Com dois jogadores com características mais de “segundo volante”, o treinador precisou adaptar Zé como um “camisa 5”. Para que isso dê certo, o português tem contado com a amizade e com o entendimento da nova dupla, cuja amizade está fora de campo.

-Eu e o Zé sempre tivemos uma parceria, não apenas dentro de campo, mas muito fora de campo também. A gente se entende bem, a gente conversa, tem jogo que ele fica mais, mas tem jogo que ele fala “Gabi, fica um pouco que eu quero fazer um golzinho, atacar mais”. Aí eu falo “tranquilo, pode ir”. A gente se dá muito bem, o Abel dá toda a liberdade para a gente, então eu acho que essa liberdade, essa parceria, cada dia vai crescer mais e tenho certeza que a gente vai evoluir.

>ATUAÇÕES: Rony decide novamente e é o melhor em vitória sobre o RB Bragantino

O Palmeiras agora foca no próximo adversário, que é a Ferroviária, neste domingo, no Allianz Parque, às 18h30, pela penúltima rodada da fase de grupos do Paulistão. Líder do Grupo D com 24 pontos, o Verdão quer conquistar duas vitórias para ter a melhor campanha geral da competição e ter a vantagem de decidir todos os confrontos de mata-mata dentro de casa até a decisão.

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Despite impressing Hansi Flick in preseason, Barcelona's financial struggles have forced them to register Roony Bardghji as a reserve team player.

• Bardghji has been registered as a Barca Atletic
• Club say it's a temporary solution
• Coach Flick exasperated by club's handling

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Barcelona have officially registered new summer signing Bardghji as a player for their reserve team, Barca Atletic. The announcement came from the Catalan Football Federation, confirming a frustrating situation for both the club and the 19-year-old. While other recent signings Gerard Martin and Wojciech Szczesny were successfully registered just before the deadline, the club's financial struggles proved too difficult to overcome for the Swedish winger, forcing them to take this temporary measure.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This strategic move by Barcelona is a difficult one for Bardghji. The club's intentions are for the young Swede to be part of the first-team dynamic and available for call-ups by Flick. Bardghji's performances in preseason with the senior squad, where he was noted for his excellent dribbling, skills on the right wing, and finishing ability, had convinced Flick of his potential value as a first-team alternative. However, until the club can generate the necessary financial fair play, Bardghji is not formally part of the senior squad. His registration with the reserve team means that while he can play with them, his path to becoming a permanent member of Flick's squad is more complicated.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The issue surrounding Bardghji is a direct consequence of Barcelona's tightrope walk with La Liga's financial fair play rules. The club have been in a frustrating and all-too-familiar position, unable to register their new players due to an inability to free up sufficient salary space. The administrative delays have reportedly left Flick exasperated, as he has been unable to fully utilise his squad. The registrations of other players were contingent on contract terminations and loans, but an unexpected sale or a major cash injection was required to register Bardghji, which the club were unable to secure in time.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  Blaugrana's decision to register Bardghji as a reserve player is a short-term solution that buys them time. The club are expected to explore a permanent first-team registration for him when the next transfer window opens in January. This will likely depend on their ability to offload high-earning players or secure additional income streams. For now, Bardghji will train with the first team but will remain on the books of the reserve squad.

Gianluigi Buffon branded a shocking youth football attack on a 13-year-old goalkeeper “barbaric and inhumane” as outrage spread across Italy.

Young goalkeeper assaulted by rival’s parentBuffon condemn 'barbaric' violenceClub withdraws youth team from tournamentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

A shocking act of violence marred youth football in Italy after a 13-year-old goalkeeper was reportedly brutally attacked by the father of an opponent during the Super Oscar youth tournament in Collegno, near Turin. The young player, representing GSD Volpiano Pianese, was left hospitalised with a fractured malleolus, a bruised cheekbone, and head trauma after being punched at the end of the match against CSF Carmagnola. Doctors have since discharged him, though the teenager will require psychological support as well as physical rehabilitation. His heartbreaking reaction summed up the horror as after the incident, he reportedly asked his father: “Dad, would you have hit one of my opponents like that guy did?”

The 40-year-old attacker was immediately reported to the Carabinieri for assault, sparking fury across the football world. Volpiano Pianese have since withdrawn their Under-14 team from the tournament in protest, calling the move “a painful choice” but necessary to preserve the wellbeing and values of their players. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT BUFFON SAID

Italy and Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon, who has long been regarded as one of the great voices of the game, delivered a powerful and emotional response to the shocking assault. Writing in , admitted that he was left without words after learning of the incident and called for deep reflection on the culture surrounding youth football.

"I'm speechless… Literally stunned by what happened. Indeed, above all, disoriented, because the behaviors that are now too often repeated on or around the football pitches invite much deeper reflection than instinctive and normal outrage. We must do something truly powerful and strong, something that restores reason, respect, and humanity to the center of our lives. These barbaric and inhumane acts have deep roots in unease, a lack of education, and a total lack of self-control," he said.

Buffon went on to stress that football cannot simply shrug off such a disturbing decline in values. Instead, he urged a cultural shift and highlighted the importance of forgiveness as a way to break the cycle of violence: "I don't know what the cure is, but we cannot helplessly accept such a profound cultural, social, and behavioral decline. That said, I want to send a huge hug and best wishes for a speedy recovery to my colleague, the goalkeeper, advising him to respond to violence with forgiveness, because only with such counter-trend choices can we attempt to eradicate such brutality and create a better world and environment."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The assault has sparked outrage and soul-searching across Italian football and beyond, shining an unflattering light on recurring violence around youth pitches. Clubs, coaches, and football bodies have been forced to confront the toxic culture of aggression that sometimes overshadows grassroots football. 

This incident has been reported just a couple days after a 13-year-old Lyon academy prospect was arrested under suspicion of stabbing a 16-year-old to death and with that the calls for lifetime bans, education programs for parents, and stronger disciplinary action are growing louder. The withdrawal of Volpiano Pianese from the tournament was a symbolic but powerful message, that the values of football matter more than trophies.

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AFPWHAT NEXT?

The incident has become a watershed moment for Italian grassroots football. With FIFA, legendary goalkeepers like Buffon and and national media spotlighting the case, pressure is mounting on football authorities to take decisive action. The attacker faces legal proceedings for assault, while calls for lifetime bans from football-related activities continue to grow.

For the victim, the road to recovery will be both physical and psychological and for the wider football community, the incident could trigger reforms in parental conduct at youth games, stricter supervision, and awareness campaigns, the steps desperately needed to ensure children can play the sport they love without fear.

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O São Paulo estuda se pede à CBF liberação de seus dois jovens convocados nesta sexta-feira (31) pelo técnico Ramon Menezes para a Seleção Brasileira sub-20, que realizará uma série de amistosos preparatórios para o Mundial da categoria, no final do ano.

O Brasil enfrentará República Dominicana, Iraque e, por fim, Uzbequistão ou Senegal, em uma série de partidas que acontecerão entre os dias 15 e 27 de abril, na Espanha.

+Praticamente um reforço por mês! Relembre as contratações do São Paulo na gestão Casares

Foram convocados do Tricolor o zagueiro Beraldo e o lateral-esquerdo Patryck.

Para a disputa do Sul-Americano da categoria, no início do ano, a dupla havia sido chamada por Ramon. O clube pediu e conseguiu na ocasião a liberação de Beraldo para a disputa do Campeonato Paulista, mas liberou Patryck, que acabou se sagrando campeão do torneio.

A motivação são-paulina para efetuar novo pedido de liberação à CBF é o mesmo: falta de opções no elenco.

Zaga e lateral-esquerda são as duas posições onde o clube tentou e não conseguiu contratar reforços.Bernardo Schapper, do Ituano, e Jamerson, do Guarani, respectivamente.

Com isso, as opções para o técnico Rogério Ceni são limitadas. Com planos de adotar o esquema com três defensores nas competições que se iniciarão, Beraldo, como canhoto, é peça fundamental do esquema e briga pela titularidade.

Na lateral, o titular absoluto Welington se recupera de cirurgia e deve voltar no mínimo em três meses. A reserva é de Caio, trazido por empréstimo junto ao Fluminense. Patryck é a opção para qualquer infortúnio.

Durante a série de amistosos dos jovens brasileiros, o Tricolor tem quatro compromissos de sua equipe principal: os duelos contra Botafogo e América-MG, pelo Brasileirão, o jogo ante o Puerto Cabello, na segunda rodada da fase de grupos da Sul-Americana, e o jogo de volta da terceira fase ante o Ituano na Copa do Brasil.

+ Confia os jogos, classificação e simule resultados do Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!

+ Confira jogos, classificação e simule resultados da Copa Sul-Americana-23 na tabela do LANCE!

+Confira jogos, classificação e simule resultados da Copa do Brasil-23 na tabela do LANCE!

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been dropped by England boss Thomas Tuchel for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers but the likes of Adam Wharton and Djed Spence have earned a call-up. The Three Lions face Andorra at Villa Park on September 6 before travelling to Serbia on September 9, and Tuchel has taken a brave call by omitting the star right-back.

• Tuchel axes Alexander-Arnold
• Madrid star struggling for game time
• Wharton & Spence in squad while Rashford recalled

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  For Alexander-Arnold, who swapped Liverpool red for Real Madrid’s white this summer, the news comes as a bitter blow. Just months after making the bold leap to La Liga, he now faces questions over both his club status and his international future. He started Madrid’s opening fixture of the season, only to be withdrawn after 68 minutes. In the following game, he didn’t make the starting line-up, but was introduced from the bench in the second half during a 3-0 win over Oveido. 

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tuchel’s decision is no sudden knee-jerk. Back in June, when England faced Andorra and Senegal, the manager had already voiced concern about Alexander-Arnold’s defensive reliability. 

  "I can see that sometimes he relies heavily on his offensive contributions and gives not so much emphasis on the defensive discipline and effort," Tuchel said. "This major impact that he had for Liverpool over so many years… if he wants to have this impact in the English national team then he has to take the defensive part very, very seriously."

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  TELL ME MORE

  Jack Grealish, who swapped Manchester City for Everton in the summer, also failed to make the cut despite providing for two goals in the Toffees' 2-0 win over Brighton. However, Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson and Tottenham full-back Spence have been rewarded for their consistency with a maiden call-up. Marcus Rashford has also earned a recall, with Cole Palmer sidelined with an injury.

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• FULL ENGLAND SQUAD

  Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, James Trafford, Dean Henderson

  Defenders: Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tino Livramento, Djed Spence

  Midfielders: Elliot Anderson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jordan Henderson, Adam Wharton, Morgan Rogers, Declan Rice

  Forwards: Harry Kane, Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins

MatériaMais Notícias

No próximo domingo (2), às 11h (de Brasília), no Estádio do Nacional, em São Paulo, acontecerá o jogo beneficente ‘Joga pelos Raros’ que terá a presença do jogador Romário e convidados. A partida faz parte da iniciativa do Março Verde – mês voltado para a conscientização da Neuromielite Óptica (NMO), uma doença inflamatória autoimune e progressiva que afeta os nervos ópticos e a medula espinhal, podendo causar cegueira e paralisia.

De acordo com um levantamento do Comitê Brasileiro de Tratamento e Pesquisa em Esclerose Múltipla e Doenças Neuroimunológicas (BCTRIMS), o Brasil possui a segunda maior prevalência mundial de casos da doença. No entanto, a NMO é rara e ainda desconhecida por grande parte da população.

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>Artur acerta últimos detalhes e deve assinar com o Palmeiras nas próximas horas

Por isso, através da disseminação massiva de conhecimentos relevantes e verificados sobre a doença e também de uma série de ações que ampliam a visibilidade da causa, o movimento Março Verde busca conscientizar a sociedade sobre a NMO.

A partida é um dos acontecimentos importantes da campanha e tem como previsão contar com um público estimado de sete mil torcedores. Entre os convidados especiais que jogarão com Romário pela NMO estão também os ex-jogadores Vampeta, Júnior Souza além de figuras da internet como Pedala Robinho e Alfredo, influenciador do canal #VEMPROFUT.

Os ingressos podem ser adquiridos online e parte da arrecadação será destinada a ações sociais das organizações Amigos Múltiplos pela Esclerose (AME) e Crônicos do Dia a Dia (CDD). Além disso, serão disponibilizados 400 ingressos gratuitos. A iniciativa em questão faz parte da área de responsabilidade social da CDD e tem o intuito de aproximar mais pessoas do esporte.

Em 2023, o Março Verde leva o mote da esperança pela NMO com a missão de melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes e cuidadores. A esperança é a de que isso contribua, entre outras coisas, para um diagnóstico precoce e busca pelo tratamento. O evento conta com o apoio da Horizon Therapeutics, empresa de biotecnologia focada no tratamento de doenças inflamatórias raras, autoimunes e graves, e da Hamburgada do Bem,

SERVIÇO DE JOGO

Dia: 2 de abril
Local: Estádio do Nacional – Endereço: Av. Marquês de São Vicente, 2477 – Água Branca – São Paulo – SP.
Horário: 11h
Preço do ingresso: R$ 30 além 500 ingressos gratuitos que serão disponibilizados nas redes sociais da CDD e ‘Joga pelos Raros’.

The Brazilian striker has been linked with West Ham and Wolves, among others, as he continues to thrive in his homeland

Yuri Alberto is only 24 years old, but he has already been through so much in football that fans often mistakenly believe that Corinthians' current hero is older than he actually is. His combination of youth and  proven goal-scoring ability, though, makes him a No.9 who is on the radar of a host of European clubs.

The forward has frequently been linked to clubs in the Premier League as well as the likes of Roma and Atletico Madrid. Making such a move would be the natural path for someone who has stood out for his skills and goal-scoring record since he was a little boy, but whose transition to professional football turned out to be much more difficult than anticipated.

Perhaps this irregularity that marked his early years explains why Yuri Alberto remains a hidden gem, but there is no doubt that he is both young and good enough to become a global star:

Getty Images SportWhere it all began

Born in Sao Jose dos Campos, in the countryside of Sao Paulo, Yuri Alberto fell in love with football from an early age. His father, Carlos Alberto, was his greatest role model, and Yuri often watched him in action in amateur matches. The family patriarch was also his first coach, insisting that young right-footed Yuri train to finish with his left foot as well.

That ability to score with both feet, combined with remarkable body awareness, meant that Yuri had the potential to make his dream of becoming a professional footballer come true, and it’s fair to say that he found one of the best schools in the world to hone his talent at Santos.

He arrived at Vila Belmiro in 2013, the same year that Neymar left for Barcelona. He moved with his mother and sisters to the Baixada Santista, closer to the club’s facilities, while his father juggled jobs to help fund his son’s dream. At the Peixe’s youth academy – where he played alongside Real Madrid's Rodrygo – Yuri impressed with his goals and even caught the attention of Arsenal and Manchester United, but turning his talent into consistent performances at the professional level would prove far more challenging.

Promoted to the first team in 2017 while just 16 years old, the goals Yuri scored so easily in the academy didn’t emerge in the professional ranks, and with opportunities dwindling and the club going through instability amid managerial changes, he endured a yo-yo existence between youth and senior football. As his contract neared its end, it became clear a change was inevitable.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe big break

Frustrated by limited chances under coach Jesualdo Ferreira and during renewal negotiations, Yuri Alberto decided to move to Internacional in 2020. The departure didn’t sit well with Santos fans, who made him one of their primary targets for criticism.

Yet it’s undeniable that Yuri made the right choice. The 10 goals he scored in the pandemic-hit Brasileirao campaign took Internacional to within inches of their first league title since 1979. He followed that up in 2021 by finding the net 19 times across all competitions, and though that wasn’t enough to bring silverware to the Gauchos, it did convince Zenit St. Petersburg to spend €25 million on the young striker.

Yuri's stint in Russian football, his first and only experience in Europe so far, was brief: 15 matches, six goals, and three assists. The outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine accelerated his desire to return to Brazil, where he would also have greater visibility to help achieve his dream of playing for the national team. That led to a move to Corinthians in 2022 – first on loan, and later on a permanent deal.

Getty Images SportHow it's going

Since joining Corinthians, Yuri has scored 70 goals and cemented his name in history as the club’s top scorer since the turn of the century. The 2025 Paulista title, secured by beating local rivals Palmeiras, only strengthened his bond with the fans, and he has now well establish as a Corinthians idol.

But things haven't always run smoothly for Yuri since his return to South America. His first two years at the Timao were marked by ups and downs as the striker faced heavy criticism while the club battled against relegation in both 2022 and 2023. By 2024, Yuri had “reached his limit” and even considered leaving the club.

“I was very convinced that I wanted to leave. I couldn’t take it anymore. We were going to make a lot of effort to try to leave. I was at my limit,” he admitted in an interview on the YouTube channel. The turning point came with the arrival of coach Ramon Diaz, under whom Yuri scored 31 goals and finished as the top scorer in Brazilian football that season.

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Getty Images SportBiggest strengths

Now in 2025, under the command of ex-Brazil boss Dorival Junior, Yuri remains Corinthians’ main attacking reference. Primarily right-footed but equally competent with his left and in aerial duels, Yuri is most dangerous inside the box but also contributes to the build-up when needed. His bursts of speed in counter-attacks and his relentless work rate make him one of the most complete forwards in Brazilian football today.