Goal efficiency
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Flamengo · Carioca - 1 · Midfielder · #20 · Brazil · 28 yrs
Lucas Paquetá plays as a midfielder for Flamengo. Lucas Paquetá is a Brazilian international, 28 years old, midfielder, currently at Flamengo. Lucas Paquetá wears shirt number 20 for Flamengo. Lucas Paquetá was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 1997-08-27. Lucas Paquetá is 180 cm tall and weighs 72 kg. Lucas Paquetá's Sportra profile tracks season statistics across Carioca - 1, CONMEBOL Libertadores, UEFA Europa Conference League, Friendlies, and other leagues. Lucas Paquetá's page brings together career clubs, trophies, injury history, multi-competition stats, and related news headlines. On Sportra you can explore Lucas Paquetá season statistics, transfer history, trophies, injury updates, and related news across every competition tracked in the profile.
| Season | Team |
|---|---|
| 2026 |  Brazil BRA |
| 2026 |  Flamengo FLA |
| 2025 | Brazil BRA |
| 2025 |  West Ham WES |
| 2024 | Brazil BRA |
| Date | Type | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-26 | Transfer | West Ham WES | Flamengo FLA |
| 2026-01-25 | Transfer | West Ham WES | — |
| 2026-01-25 | Transfer | West Ham WES | Flamengo FLA |
Season intelligence
Profile as Midfielder: finisher. Archetype: Clinical forward. Season rating 7.7.
Scaled 0–99 from season output — map to fantasy, comparisons, or scouting cards.
Per-90 rates, efficiency ratios, and Sportra indices from season totals.
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Playmaking output: assists, key passes, and custom chance-creation signals.
Isolation threat and progressive carrying — volume plus success rate.
How often they draw fouls and stay out of trouble with cards.
Tackles, duels, and off-ball defensive contribution.
Shot-stopping, goals conceded, and penalty saves.
Minutes, availability, and how central they were to the team.
Every tracked category for this league and season, grouped by Sportra.
Following Brazil's disappointing elimination, Neymar Jr.'s future with the national team has come under serious doubt, as he was deeply affected by the result. In response, Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário decided to support the veteran forward by offering him a clear piece of advice. Brazil arrived at the 2026 World Cup as a favorite, as Carlo Ancelotti had been implementing a great style of play. However, they were eliminated by Norway in the Round of 16. After this, Neymar Jr.’s future with the national team is full of doubts, as he was deeply affected. In the midst of this, Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário decided to support the veteran player, giving him advice about his international future. “Don’t put any pressure on yourself and don’t decide anything right now. There’s no need. No one needs to decide anything out right now… We cannot forget that he is coming off two years of serious injury, He arrived as a sacrifice for this World Cup. He will catch the rhythm again. He will play 10, 15 games in a row. He will get back to scoring goals, he will regain his confidence,” said Ronaldo Nazario, via TNT Sports Brazil. Neymar Jr. played a completely marginal role for Brazil in the 2026 World Cup. He only played in two matches, coming off the bench in both, and scored just one goal, which came from the penalty spot. Far from his limited involvement being due to physical reasons, he revealed that he was in full physical condition, meaning it was purely a tactical decision by Ancelotti. Despite the fact that Neymar was clearly affected, he has reportedly not made a decision yet regarding his international retirement. Instead, he has decided to take a break, spending time at poker tournaments and purchasing a yacht. The 34-year-old star still has plenty of time to decide his international future, as he first needs to return to Santos and secure a new contract extension with solid performances. Neymar Jr #10 of Brazil is consoled by Raphinha #11. Neymar Jr. faces an uncertain future in Brazil under Ancelotti Throughout Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure, Neymar Jr. has not even been a secondary player, but rather a marginal one. While he was called up for the 2026 World Cup, Lucas Paquetá and Matheus Cunha established as the preferred options in the attacking midfield. With Ancelotti under contract until 2030, it appears that the 34-year-old star will not change his status within the national team. If Neymar Jr. decides to continue with Brazil, he would have the same role: The third option in the rotation. As the national team’s all-time leading scorer, he could decide not to force his return unless he is able to compete on equal terms for a starting spot. To achieve that, the 34-year-old star needs to shine again at Santos, while regaining physical consistency and rediscovering his goalscoring form. At 34 years old, Neymar may no longer be aiming for the 2030 World Cup, but rather for the 2028 Copa América. Therefore, he still has several months to regain his motivation and earn a starting spot through his performances. To do so, he needs to arrive at the next call-up free of physical problems, something he was unable to achieve at the current World Cup. Even so, the task of convincing Ancelotti appears to be a difficult one.
In the middle of a very even match against Norway, Brazil were awarded a penalty in the opening minutes of the game. Despite Vinícius being the team's top scorer, Bruno Guimarães was the one who took the spot kick, which Nyland saved, bringing to an end a 40-year streak at the World Cup. Brazil and Norway are facing off in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Far from being an easy match, Carlo Ancelotti’s team have struggled to find spaces in the opposition’s defense, as Ståle Solbakken’s team have managed to enjoy more possession. After being awarded a penalty, they appeared to be closing in on the victory, but Bruno Guimarães‘ attempt was saved by Nyland, bringing to an end a 40-year streak at the World Cup. According to MisterChip, a well-known soccer statistician, Norway‘s Nyland save against Bruno Guimarães brought to an end a 40-year streak of Brazil scoring every penalty they had taken at the World Cup. The last time Brazil missed a penalty in the tournament was in 1986, when Zico failed from the spot against France. In addition, Bruno became just the fourth player to miss a penalty for the Brazilian national team in the history of the competition. Far from Bruno Guimarães’ miss being just a statistic, it reflects a harsh reality: Brazil no longer dominate and impose as they did in previous eras. Twenty-four years have passed since they last lifted the World Cup title. In addition, Norway are achieving the unexpected by controlling possession and creating several clear scoring chances. Therefore, Carlo Ancelotti’s team still have plenty of room for improvement. Video: Brazil’s Bruno Guimaraes fails to convert a penalty vs. Norway In the middle of a brilliant counterattack, Matheus Cunha broke into the penalty area in a promising position. However, Kristoffer Ajer stopped the move by bringing him down and conceding a penalty. Despite Vinícius Jr. being the team’s top scorer, it was Bruno Guimarães who stepped up to take it. Striking his effort toward Örjan Nyland’s lower-right corner, the goalkeeper saved the shot and brought to an end a 40-year streak. Bruno Guimarães' penalty is SAVED by Norway keeper Ørjan Nyland 😱 pic.twitter.com/bDhRnI975R— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 5, 2026 Bruno Guimarães’ miss could prove very costly for Brazil. Carlo Ancelotti’s team have failed to impose their high press and possession game against Norway. Had they converted the penalty, they could have gained plenty of confidence and turned the match in their favor. Instead, they have repeated the same mistakes they made against Japan, appearing to have no attacking ideas against their opponents. Neymar Jr may be Brazil’s solution vs Norway Despite their major creative problems in midfield, Brazil‘s Carlo Ancelotti decided to deploy Gabriel Martinelli as an attacking midfielder in the absence of Lucas Paquetá. Far from solving those issues, the team continue to show very few attacking ideas, looking extremely flat in every area of the pitch. Because of this, Brazil’s main solution could be Neymar Jr., who could reshape the team’s tactical approach against Norway. If Neymar Jr. comes on as a substitute, he would play as an attacking midfielder. With this, he would support Bruno Guimarães in creating attacking moves. With his vision, he could take control of the midfield by distributing key passes and stretching the play. In addition, he would draw defenders toward him, freeing up his teammates, who would have more opportunities to run into space and find openings.
After their important victory over Japan, Brazil secured their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, facing Norway in today’s game. Despite not coming on in the previous match, Neymar Jr. has once again not been named in the starting lineup by Carlo Ancelotti. Brazil have remained one of the top contenders at the 2026 World Cup. Despite their draw against Morocco, they have managed to regain their best form. After defeating Japan in a closely contested match, they secured their place in the Round of 16, facing Norway in today’s game. Even though he did not start the previous match, Neymar Jr. has once again been named on the bench by head coach Carlo Ancelotti. Neymar Jr. has fully recovered from the physical issues that prevented him from playing Brazil’s opening matches. Carlo Ancelotti has decided to leave him on the bench against Norway for tactical reasons. After coming on in the 76th minute against Scotland, he has not played again for the national team. Therefore, the 34-year-old star could receive playing time again, but as an attacking substitute in the No. 10 role during the second half. “Neymar can play 90 minutes… and he can play with Vinicius Jr…I think they will play together,” revealed Ancelotti in the latest press conference. After losing Lucas Paquetá, the 34-year-old star may have a more important role within the roster, but he may remain as the bench role player. However, his tactical vision, collective game and individual talent may give them an edge vs Norway in the second part as a boost. In Neymar’s spot against Norway, Carlo Ancelotti has opted for Gabriel Martinelli in the attacking midfield role, seeking both creativity and goalscoring threat. As a result, Matheus Cunha takes the center-forward position, reshaping the attack to maximize its goalscoring potential. However, Neymar is expected to receive more playing time than he did against Scotland, as he looks to regain his best form ahead of the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup. Neymar Jr #10 of Brazil embraces Matheus Cunha #9. Neymar Jr. may ease Brazil’s control of the game vs Norway Brazil have struggled to control the tempo of matches, as Lucas Paquetá has played more as a second winger, while Matheus Cunha has operated as a center forward. As a result, Bruno Guimarães has been left as the only player capable of controlling the game, but he has often been overwhelmed due to the lack of support in that role. Because of this, Neymar Jr. could be the solution against Norway, coming off the bench. Without the exceptional physical condition he had in previous seasons, Neymar has focused on a deeper midfield role. There, he is able to enhance the team’s collective play by drawing defenders and finding through balls. With his experience on the pitch, Brazil could control Norway’s attacks more effectively and give greater prominence to their offense in search of a convincing victory. Along with his creative influence, Neymar could also be key in front of goal. Although he is no longer the same dribbler due to his physical condition, he remains outstanding in central areas, where he can find space to finish. In addition, he is still one of Brazil’s top goalscorers, so long-range shots and free kicks could be his best opportunities to score against Norway and end his goal drought.
In the expected match at the 2026 World Cup between Brazil and Norway, Lucas Paqueta is not ready to play. For the important 2026 World Cup match in which Brazil play against Norway, Lucas Paquetá won’t be part of the squad or on the bench after a recent injury left him unavailable. The reason Paquetá is not playing against Norway is a muscle injury to the back of his left thigh, as confirmed by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The midfielder picked up the injury during Brazil’s 2-1 victory over Japan in the Round of 32 and was unable to continue after halftime. His absence opens a spot in the lineup after Paquetá had started every match for Brazil before the injury, which proves how important the midfielder has been for Carlo Ancelotti. Carlo Ancelotti on Paquetá Losing Paquetá is an important setback for Brazil because of the balance he brings in midfield. Even so, Ancelotti expressed confidence in the options available to replace him depending on the tactical approach for the match. Ancelotti described the midfield situation (Lars Baron/Getty Images) The manager explained that several players are capable of filling the role, as he detailed: “We have players in our squad with the quality of Paqueta but each with different characteristics, like Danilo, who is different from Gabriel Martinelli, from Matheus Cunha, from Ederson.” Ancelotti said: “The choice will depend on how our team plays, taking into account the opponent’s strength. Defensively, we need someone on the left like Paqueta, and both Martinelli and Danilo can do that. With the ball, they need to effectively fill the left midfield role.” The next match This round has proved that no team can relax, no matter how good they look on paper before the match. However, the bracket has already been set, with the winner of this match advancing to face either England or Mexico in the quarterfinals.
Lucas Paqueta suffered an injury that ruled him out of the Round of 16 clash vs Norway, and Neymar could return to the starting lineup. Brazil received a fresh injury blow following their dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Japan in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32. Midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been ruled out of the Round of 16 clash against Norway with a thigh injury, leaving the door open for a potential return of Neymar to the starting team. Paqueta was forced off at halftime in Houston after picking up the issue during the first half against Japan, and scans the following day confirmed the worst for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. In an official statement, the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) said: “Paqueta underwent scans on Tuesday that confirmed a muscle injury to the back of his left thigh. The player will undergo an intensive treatment programme under the supervision of the national team’s medical staff, with the aim of recovering and returning to action as soon as possible”. While the CBF did not provide a recovery timeline, the midfielder will follow an intensive treatment protocol with the goal of completing his recovery as soon as possible. However, the outlook isn’t especially encouraging — even the mildest grade of muscle tears typically require two to three weeks of recovery. Lucas Paqueta reacts after being substituted with an injury. (Getty Images) With Paqueta now sidelined, Ancelotti faces a decision: shift another midfielder or open a spot in the side for Neymar, who could fill the void in that position and has been building up his minutes step by step heading into the latter stages of the tournament. Neymar’s road back: from the bench to a possible start Neymar’s path to the 2026 World Cup has been anything but smooth. The 34-year-old, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, suffered a Grade II muscle injury to his right calf while playing for Santos, just one day before Ancelotti named him in his 26-man squad. The injury kept him out of Brazil’s first two group games, a 1-1 draw with Morocco and a 3-0 win over Haiti, and marked an extension of an absence that had already stretched back to October 2023, when Neymar tore his ACL playing for Brazil against Uruguay. By the time he was passed fit to feature against Scotland, he hadn’t played a competitive minute for the national team in 980 days. Neymar made his tournament debut off the bench in that Scotland match, coming on in the 76th minute and playing roughly 14 minutes. He remained in a substitute role for the Round of 32 win over Japan, where he didn’t end up coming on, though Ancelotti explained the idea had been to use him in extra time had the match gone there. When do Brazil play next? Brazil’s Round of 16 match against Norway is set for July 5 at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Norway booked their spot in the next round with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in the Round of 32, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal late on.
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