Seven gems from Copinha 2026 are on Real Madrid’s radar as they look for a worthy successor to Vinícius Júnior By Janderson Luiz
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The Real Madrid keeps observers attentive to the Copa São Paulo of
The competition, considered the main showcase of Brazilian grassroots football, began its edition on January 2 and brings together 128 teams divided into 32 groups. The tournament has already revealed names like Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Endrick, all signed by Real Madrid in recent years.
The Merengue club’s strategy prioritizes athletes who can repeat the success of quick transitions to the main squad. Copinha continues to be a privileged stage for identifying Brazilian talents.
Context of the current edition of Copinha
The Copa São Paulo of Futebol Júnior of 2026 maintains its traditional structure with a group stage followed by a knockout stage. São Paulo defends the title won in 2025 and enters with an experienced squad, mixing players who have already played in the under-20s with young people aged 16 and 17.
Several large clubs participate in full force, despite the tight calendar of the state championships that start in January. The absence of Flamengo, who chose to prioritize Campeonato Carioca, reduces the number of traditional participants, but does not reduce the technical level of the competition.
- 128 teams divided into 32 groups
- Starts January 2, 2026
- Knockout stage from the round of 16 onwards
- Final scheduled for January 25th, the anniversary of the city of São Paulo
The tournament attracts scouts from several European clubs in addition to Real Madrid. Equipes as well as Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain also send representatives to attend the games.
Players highlighted on the merengue radar
The Real Madrid focuses attention on athletes in different positions. The club expanded the scope of observation to include defenders and midfielders, in addition to traditional Brazilian attackers.
Benedetti, defender of Palmeiras, has already made his debut for the professional team under the command of Abel Ferreira. The player demonstrates tactical maturity and good positioning, characteristics valued by the Spanish scouting department.
Wesley Natã, Fluminense striker, draws attention with his speed and dribbling ability in short spaces. The young man is part of the Tricolor attack alongside other promises from the Rio club.
Riquelme Felipe, also from Fluminense, presents versatility in midfield. The athlete contributes both in creating and arriving in the opponent’s area.
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Profile searched by Real Madrid
The Spanish club prioritizes specific characteristics in the young people observed. Physical Potencial combined with the margin of evolution forms the main criterion adopted in recent years.
Vinícius Júnior serves as an internal reference for new Brazilian hires. The striker arrived at Real Madrid from Flamengo and quickly established himself as an absolute starter.
Endrick, hired from Palmeiras, follows a similar path by gradually integrating into the main cast. The strategy proved effective with Rodrygo, another former participant of Copinha who became a fundamental player.
Real Madrid maintains a policy of investing in athletes under 18 years of age. The club anticipates signings to develop players at its facilities at Espanha.
History of success with Brazilians at the base
Real Madrid reaps positive results from its recruitment policy at Brasil. Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo currently form the starting duo in the Merengue attack.
Endrick represents the most recent bet and is already training with the main group. The striker shows quick adaptation to European football despite his young age.
Other Brazilians have passed through the Madrid base in recent decades. Reinier, also hired by Flamengo, joined the project before being loaned out to gain experience.
The Copinha functioned as a decisive showcase in several cases. Scouts from the club have been following the tournament systematically since the beginning of the 2010s.
Other highlights of the competition in 2026
Several players attract attention in addition to those monitored by Real Madrid. The São Paulo has an experienced base with athletes who have already competed in previous editions.
Corinthians is betting on a strong team led by Gui Amorim in midfield. Palmeiras maintains a tradition of revealing solid defenders like Benedetti.
Fluminense brings a fast attack with Wesley Natã and Riquelme Felipe. Clubes minors also surprise with individual talents in the early stages.
The competition continues with daily games until the end of January. The knockout stages tend to raise the technical level and attract more international observers.
Importance of Copinha on the global stage
The Copa São Paulo has established itself as the main grassroots tournament in the world. Clubes Europeans use competition as a primary source of identifying South American talent.
The Brazilian calendar facilitates direct observation by foreign scouts. Janeiro focuses global attention on the country’s youth football.
Several world champions passed through the tournament in youth categories. The structure with 128 teams guarantees diversity of styles and origins.
Real Madrid plans to maintain a constant presence in future editions. The Spanish club considers the Brasil a priority market for young reinforcements.
