Paulinho on his super-sub role, Estevao and Chelsea

• Paulinho is only able to play limited minutes from the bench
• The 24-year-old has swung back-to-back games for Palmeiras
• He discusses his form, Estevao and the clash with Chelsea

He shouldn’t be at this FIFA Club World Cup™. If truth be told, his uniform shouldn’t even be green. Paulinho, indeed, had just undergone surgery in December when Palmeiras paid 18 million euros to make him the second-most expensive player ever bought by a Brazilian club.

There was no timeline on when he’d recover. There was no guarantee he would recover. Abel Ferreira, however, wasn’t willing to play casino with a man he’d long coveted.

The Portuguese identified Paulinho as his number-one target when he was leaving Bayer Leverkusen two-and-a-half years ago. Palmeiras couldn’t agree terms with the forward, though, and he duly joined Atletico Mineiro. Paulinho hit 20 goals in 36 games to finish as the leading marksman in the 2023 Brasileirão ahead of Luiz Suarez, Tiquinho Soares, Hulk, Marcos Leonardo and Pedro, and finished as the second-top scorer in the 2024 Copa Libertadores. The Verdão pounced and, this time, made the capture.

“Abel, president Leila [Pereira] and director of football Anderson [Barros] gave me the confidence that, even though I was injured, I could join Palmeiras, get back to 100 per cent and help the team,” Paulinho explained to FIFA. “Getting back to 100 per cent hasn’t been possible yet, but I’m helping as much as I can to repay the trust they showed in me.”

Paulinho most certainly is, though he needed another Abel gamble just to make it to the USA. Upon his return to action in April, following four-and-a-half months out, it quickly became apparent that he would require further surgery.

Abel nevertheless believed that, even half-fit, and even playing limited minutes, the Carioca could make a difference at the FIFA Club World Cup™. He suggested delaying the operation until after the tournament. Paulinho was all in. The courageous call has already reaped sizeable rewards.

The 24-year-old rose from the bench and scored to help Palmeiras, who were two goals down, draw with Inter Miami and snatch top spot in Group A – a result that ensured they avoided Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16. He then sold his marker a dummy and struck the only goal against Botafogo to book Palmeiras a quarter-final against Chelsea at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

“I’m willing to help the team for as long as it takes,” said Paulinho. “Abel needs me in the second half, when the team needs more offensive plays, more intensity.

“I have, in some way, to help the team with that. I feel good about doing that in the minutes I get. That’s what I’m going to keep doing. I hope I can retain everyone’s trust so I can continue helping Palmeiras.”

The Verdão outplayed FC Porto for long periods during a 0-0 draw in their Group A curtain-rasier. Now they are ready to battle and beat the Blues.

“We’re going to face another strong team from Europe,” said Paulinho. “So far we haven’t had any easy games. We have time to work, to plan the perfect strategy to be able to neutralise their team and get the victory we need.”

The Palmeiras No10 is wary of his Chelsea counterpart Cole Palmer: “He is an excellent player, globally renowned. Of course it will be very difficult to play against him, but we’ll be prepared.”

Palmer will be joined at Stamford Bridge after this tournament by one of the biggest prospect Brazil has unearthed this century. First, though, Estevao must complete against Chelsea.

“Estevao is a star, a player who’s brilliant for us,” stressed Paulinho. “He’s a player who’s proving extremely important for us in this competition, and who will help us a lot once again.”

Paulinho will also hope to play his part again – and further vindicate what many perceived a crazy move by Abel to bring him to the competition.

“This is why we brought him,” said the Palmeiras coach following Paulinho’s winner against Botafogo. “We knew we couldn’t count on him for more than 30 minutes, and we all know what will happen after this Club World Cup. He’ll undergo another operation. I’ll be very honest: this is why he came. To play 15 minutes and decide games.”