B/R
Europe remains the promised land for young players in Brazil, but the path to get there is not as tricky as it used to be.
Making waves for one of Brazil's so-called "Big Twelve clubs" and starring for the Selecao is no longer an essential condition to appear on the radar of European scouts. For every high-profile transfer, there's a number of teenagers who, despite having barely tasted top-flight football, leave home to chase their dreams.
Some of them have managed to shine abroad and are now ready to take the next step.