Real Madrid fans have been watching the Brazil national team this year at the World Cup with great interest. Not only is one of their biggest stars and two time Champions League winner Vinicius Junior the face of the team now, but club legend Casemiro is still balling in the midfield and youngster Endrick is in the team, too. And then there is the beloved manager Carlo Ancelotti, who led Real Madrid to three Champions League titles.
Vinicius Jr. took center stage again with another brace in Wednesday night's commanding 3-0 win over Scotland to seal the Selecao winning th World Cup group again. Endrick did not do much in mere minutes of a run around, as another youngster, Rayan, appears to be taking the place of Raphinha on the right wing instead.
But there is another man with a Real Madrid connection who had a great game worth praising, though he flies under the radar. Right back Danilo was hyped as the next star at the position for Real Madrid in the early 2010s, but the former Manchester City and Juventus fullback only lasted a couple of seasons there. He wasn't as bad as many Madridistas will have you think, but he failed to establish himself as a Real Madrid caliber starter and was jettisoned off to the Premier League giants instead.
Danilo is surprising everyone
Now 34 years of age and playing his club football back in Brazil to wind down his career at Flamengo, Vini Jr.'s first club, Danilo was a surprise pick by Carlo Ancelotti in the Selecao World Cup squad. And many fans were panning Don Carlo for picking Danilo.
But Danilo had revived his career in Serie A as one of the most underrated defenders in the world, and though he has lost a step in speed, he remains effective for Brazil and has been a much needed mini breakout star in the World Cup tournament this year for the Selecao.
Danilo was very solid for Brazil in the win over Scotland, playing a crucial role in the clean sheet. He read the game perfectly from the right back position, completely shutting down shop defensively. And Danilo showed solid technical ability as a passer, completing nearly 95 percent of his passes, which was the level he reached as a passer at Juve under Andrea Pirlo when he had a bit of a late career renaissance.
You need to find quality contributors in unexpected players, and some Real Madrid fans will be surprised to see a 34 year old Danilo emerging as a key player for Brazil at right back. But with so few options at fullback for Brazil, Danilo is the best they have and proving to be an asset.
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