With Brazil celebrating their Independence Day today (September 7), we take a look at five players who have represented the Hornets heralding from the South American country…
Heurelho Gomes
Heurelho Gomes was a hugely important figure at the Hornets during his six distinguished years of service. His time at the club included a promotion to the Premier League, the club’s highest league finish since the 1980s and a prestigious FA Cup final appearance, with the goalkeeper helping to leave a legacy both on the pitch and off it with his numerous community appearances.
He also made 11 appearances for Seleção earlier in his career, heading to the FIFA World Cup in 2010 as part of a goalkeeping unit that included Júlio César and Doni. Gomes would call time on his Hornets career with 159 appearances and 45 clean sheets, leaving as a cult hero and a definitive fans’ favourite.
Samir
Despite only spending eight months with the Hornets, Brazilian defender Samir made 19 appearances in yellow during the 2021/22 Premier League season. Featuring under both Claudio Ranieri and Roy Hodgson, Samir was heavily involved, playing 90 minutes in every contest bar two matches against Manchester City and Crystal Palace.
The centre-half was unable to help Watford avoid the drop at the conclusion of the top-flight campaign, with Samir departing the club for Mexico’s Tigres UANL where he still currently plies his trade.
Matheus Martins
The only current Brazilian in the Hornets’ squad, Matheus Martins has made quite the impact since joining during his first loan spell in January 2023. Spending the remainder of the 2022/23 season at Vicarage Road, the forward made six appearances before jetting off to Argentina to take part in the 2023 Under-20 FIFA World Cup with Brazil.
He notched two goals in five appearances for Seleção before returning to England to continue his journey with Watford, signing a fresh loan deal at the start of the 2023/24 season. The tricky winger has begun this season brightly with goals against Queens Park Rangers and Coventry City, looking a handful on numerous occasions.
João Pedro
One of Watford’s most recognisable Brazilian faces, João Pedro agreed to join the Golden Boys back in October 2018, officially joining in January 2020, and made his debut against Tranmere Rovers in the Emirates FA Cup during a 3-3 draw.
Notably, the dynamic forward netted the winner against Luton Town on his 19th birthday, going on to make 109 appearances in yellow, scoring 25 goals, whilst also captaining the side on numerous occasions during his final season. He would depart Vicarage Road in the summer of 2023 to join Brighton & Hove Albion, where he would once again score against the Hatters in his first match for the Seagulls.
Richarlison
Another Brazilian player currently plying their trade in the English top-flight having previously been on the books at Watford, Richarlison featured 41 times at Vicarage Road having joined from Fluminense in August 2017. In just his second match for the Golden Boys, Richarlison scored against Bournemouth during a 2-0 victory and was the only player in the Watford squad to play every match of the 2017/18 Premier League campaign.
He would eventually swap yellow for blue as he moved to Everton in July 2018, receiving his first call-up to the Brazilian international squad less than a month later. His career with Seleção has included two goals in the most recent World Cup, with Richarlison continuing to go from strength to strength at his current side Tottenham Hotspur.
