Rivaldo predicts Leeds United star Raphinha to be a major player for Brazil in 2022
World Cup winner Rivaldo believes that Leeds United star Raphinha will be a major player for Brazil in the 2022 World Cup.
Speaking exclusively to Betfair, the former Brazilian international lauded the 24-year-old and predicted that he could become an established player for Brazil next year.
This is high praise from such a legend of the game, especially because Raphinha hasn’t actually been capped by his country at senior level yet, though he has been called up for October’s fixtures [Raphinha’s Instagram].
Rivaldo said: “This [call-up] is his reward for his excellent performances for Leeds in the Premier League.
“He’s quick and versatile, has a lot of passing and shooting quality, so he has many qualities which are valuable to a team.
“Raphinha now has a great chance to prove to Tite that he deserves to be in next year’s World Cup squad, but he needs to keep up his good performances all season if he’s to become an established player in the Brazil set-up.”
A big challenge for Raphinha
The 24-year-old has been a standout player for the Whites in a difficult season, but he has scored three goals already and has averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.21.
This is the highest in Leeds’ side by some distance, and it seems as if he has a huge future on the international stage as well as with the Whites at Elland Road.
If Rivaldo thinks that Raphinha is “excellent”, then he is doing something right, and we are excited to see how he does for Brazil.
He was called up for the last international break but decided to stay in England because of the quarantine rules [BBC].
They have been changed now, so the winger should finally make his debut, and he has the ideal chance to make an impression.
If he can replicate his form with the Whites, you would imagine that Raphinha will be playing in the World Cup for his country next year.
In other Leeds United news, one Leeds ace is set to receive a boost.