João Alancar

Belo Horizonte is a long way from the training pitches of Vila Belmiro, but that is where João Alencar came up through Santos's own academy rather than arriving from elsewhere. The centre-back has been a fixture of the club's under-20 side, and last year he made the step onto the pitch alongside the senior squad when Santos took on RB Leipzig in a friendly on 28 May.

His numbers at youth level tell a story of steady involvement rather than a single breakthrough: fifteen appearances in the Brasileirão Sub-20, two in the São Paulo state under-20 championship and one in the Copinha, the traditional proving ground for Brazilian talent. Santos have twice extended his contract at that level, tying him to the club until 2030, a sign that the coaching staff see him as part of their longer-term plans at the back.

At 187cm, Alencar has the frame clubs look for in a modern central defender, and he wears the number 42 shirt that often marks out academy prospects still working their way toward a regular first-team squad number. He has yet to add a call-up to the Brazil national team or a first taste of senior competitive football to his record, and no individual or team honours have followed him through the youth ranks so far.

For now, his career is still being built in the reserve and junior categories at Santos, with the contract extension through 2030 the clearest signal of where the club sees him heading.