Bournemouth striker Rayan, the youngest player in Brazil’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, exudes confidence about winning a sixth title for his country and proudly recounts his childhood in a Rio de Janeiro favela, where his entire family comes from.
“There are few 19-year-old players who play in a World Cup. I’m a kid from a favela. I’m very happy, I’m going to enjoy the moment and, God willing, we’re going to bring the ‘Hexa’ to Brazil,” said the striker on Friday at a press conference in Teresópolis, where the Canarinha has been training since Wednesday.
Follow in Ronaldo’s footsteps
He and Endrick, a Real Madrid forward who is also 19 years old, although a few days older than Rayan, are the youngest Brazilians to be called up for a World Cup since Ronaldo ‘Fenômeno’ at USA 1994.
Rayan grew up in Barreira do Vasco, a favela in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro known for its strong ties to Vasco da Gama.
The club where he was formed since he was 6 years old.
This slum was founded where there used to be only mangroves and is now home to about 20,000 people.
Next to the community is the São Januário stadium, the home of Vasco and Rayan until he made the leap to the Premier League last January, “the strongest league in the world,” he says enthusiastically.
Dazzles in Europe
Before that, he played futsal, a sport in which he acquired the dribbling and technique that have made him one of the revelations of the season in Europe.
Fast and provocative in equal measure, Rayan has presented himself to Ancelotti as a perfect pickup for Brazil.
Able to play on both wings or as a center forward.
In his first 16 games for Bournemouth he has scored 7 goals and shared 2 assists.
“I have a very strong personality and I’m going to give it my all,” he insists to reporters.
A crush on Ancelotti
His relationship with coach Carlo Ancelotti was love at first sight.
The Italian coach only needed fifteen minutes of a friendly against Croatia on March 31 to take him to the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, which kicks off in June.
“It was a moment of happiness to hear my name on the list,” he recounts.
Rayan made the 26-man squad ahead of other theoretically more established names in Brazil, such as Chelsea striker João Pedro.
Although the young Basque has not fallen from the sky to the absolute.
Despite his young age, he has a brilliant career in the Brazilian national youth team.
He represents the ‘Amarelinha’ since mid-2021.
He started in the U-15 and became South American champion with the U-17 and U-20 teams.
Unleashes a historic party in his community
His passion for soccer runs in his family.
Valkmar, his father, was a defender for Vasco da Gama.
His mother, Vanessa, is a fan of the Rio de Janeiro team and worked at the club.
On the eve of Brazil’s friendly against Panama at the Maracana stadium, Barreira has been celebrating ever since Ancelotti called his name, Rayan reports with a chuckle.
“A lot of people are painting the streets, painting my face.”
“It’s a moment of happiness not only for me, but for the community where I grew up and lived for a long time,” he commented.
I'm a favela boy
Rayan
“After the call, my family threw a party and I think they’re partying until now,” he joked.
The enthusiasm is such that Rayan announces, full of excitement, that there will even be a giant screen in Barreira to watch the Brazil matches.
With information from EFE
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