Internationals | Paquetá Scores for Brazil’s Comeback

Lucas Paquetá’s goal-scoring start to the 2025/26 season continued as the West Ham United midfielder scored in Brazil’s 3-0 FIFA World Cup qualification victory against Chile.

Returning to his hometown of Rio de Janeiro, Paquetá scored his country’s second goal with a precise far-post header just moments after coming on as a second-half substitute.

Wearing the No11 shirt, Paquetá went high to head home Inter Milan winger Luis Henrique’s cross from the left after replacing Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli a minute earlier.

Brazil’s win had a Premier League theme, with Chelsea youth Estêvão scoring his first goal for his country on 38 minutes and Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimarães completing the victory on 76.

In between, Hammers star Paquetá scored his fourth goal in five games this season, adding to Premier League strikes against Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, as well as a Carabao Cup header against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 28-year-old had a night to remember as he returned to Brazil duty for the first time since November 2024. His goal was his 12th in 56 appearances.

Brazil dominated at the Maracanã, with 22 goal attempts to Chile’s three. The Seleção has qualified for the World Cup finals in North America and is now ranked second in the CONMEBOL qualifying table among ten nations. Chile ranks at the bottom.

Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Colombia, and Paraguay, along with runaway leaders, have all qualified. Venezuela and Bolivia are vying for the Inter-Confederation play-off spot, while Peru and Chile have been eliminated.

Brazil’s campaign comes to an end with a trip to Bolivia, where they must win and hope Venezuela loses at home to Colombia in order to qualify for the playoffs.