The INCREDIBLE list of talent to have played for Palmeiras as youngsters | OneFootball

Vitor Reis is set to become the latest Palmeiras player to move on and potentially write his name into football history, with the defender set to join Manchester City in a £29.4m deal.

He joins an extended lineage of Palmeiras players to make the long trip to Europe. The big question he faces now is whether he will be able to measure up to those who went before him.

Here are some of the footballing legends to play for Palmeiras as youngsters…

Cafu

Photo by Shaun Botterill /Getty Images via ONE FOOTBALL

Still hailed as one of the greatest full-backs to have played the game, Cafu’s personal trophy cabinet includes two World Cup titles, six major honours with AC Milan, and a pile of domestic Brazilian silverware.

The most capped men’s Brazil player of all time with 142 appearances, his stamina and attacking threat made him a danger in all areas of the pitch.

Roberto Carlos

Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images via ONE FOOTBALL

Another world class full-back to have graduated from Palmeiras, Robert Carlos’ time at Real Madrid helped to establish Las Blancas as the dominant force in European football.

In just 11 short years, he managed to lift four La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies, and five other honours. Despite a gleaming trophy cabinet, he will be best remembered for the iconic, physics-defying free kick scored against France in 1997, which countless players have tried and failed to replicate since.

Rivaldo

Photo by Grazia Neri/Getty Images via ONE FOOTBALL

The 1999 Ballon d’Or winner spent some of his formative years at Palmeiras, scoring 55 goals in 86 league appearances between 1994 and 1996 before making the switch to Europe to play for Barcelona and AC Milan.

He cemented his spot in history as part of Brazil’s Golden Generation after winning the 2002 World Cup alongside fellow Palmeiras product Carlos.

Gabriel Jesus

Photo by Dave Thompson – Pool/Getty Images via ONE FOOTBALL

Recent injury struggles have been something of a blight on his career, but he was a key part of several of Man City’s title winning campaigns from 2017 to his departure in 2022.

Willian Estevao

Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images via ONE FOOTBALL

Arguably Palmeiras’ most notable sale of the past few seasons is actually yet to be completed. Set to move to Chelsea in summer 2025, Estevao has been hailed by coaches and pundits as the best talent to come out of Brazil since Neymar Jr. Still just 17, the winger has already managed 21 senior goals and 13 assists.