BRAZIL
Top league: Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Teams: 20
Average age: 27
Foreign players: 18%
Market value: €1.4bn
Five U21 players to watch
Endrick, 17, ST, (Palmeiras, €72m)
Vitor Roque, 17, ST, (Athletico Paranaense, €40m)
Marcos Leonardo, 20, FW, (Santos, €17m)
Pablo Maia, CM, (Sao Paulo, €7m)
John Kennedy, 21, ST, (Fluminense, €4m)
A visit to the world’s fifth-largest country (by size) requires significant preparation. With high-performing clubs and academies located from Recife in the north, to Porto Alegre in the south — a five-hour flight — and Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in the middle, the most sensible way to embark on a scouting mission is to pinpoint a specific region and leave any specifics to local stringers.
But the potential rewards from dedicating time and resources to Brazil is not to be underestimated. The depth of talent is arguably unparalleled and there are plenty of options whether you stick with recognised clubs and academies, or look through lower division sides, state championships or privately run academies outside the official FA ladder.
Brazil is a fertile place that cultivates plenty of teenage talent — even in places where technology, analytics and video streams have yet to provide much assistance — and Portuguese and Spanish clubs in particular have taken advantage in recent years.
Endrick (€72m, Real Madrid) and Vitor Roque (€40m, Barcelona) are two youngsters who will be leaving when they turn 18 next year, after world-class players like Neymar, Vinícius Júnior, Casemiro and Rodrygo trod a well-worn path before them.
UNITED STATES
Top league: Major League Soccer
Teams: 29
Average age: 26.3
Foreign players: 57.7%
Market value: €1.3bn
Five U21 players to watch
Talles Magno, 21, FW, (NYCFC, €12m)
Alan Velasco, 21, FW, (FC Dallas, €7m)
Stipe Biuk, 20, FW, (LAFC, €6.5m)
Cade Cowell, 20, FW, (San Jose Earthquakes, €5m)
Facundo Farías, 20, AM, (Inter Miami, €5m)
With outstanding facilities, seats and hospitality, the MLS scouting experience can be likened to that of Germany. On the footballing side, the open style of play gets the best out of MLS’ attacking flair players, while defenders can show their skills in numerous one-vs.-one situations.
MLS has recently beaten European clubs to the signing of some top South American talent, especially from Argentina and Colombia, such as Facundo Farías, Fernando Álvarez and Julián Fernández. The 36-year-old Lionel Messi‘s arrival has given the league a sparkle, but for scouts it’s predominantly the American (Tyler Adams, NY Red Bulls to RB Leipzig) and Canadian (Alphonso Davies, Vancouver to Bayern) prospects that make the league a fruitful destination.
