Forward Marcos Leonardo is the winner of the 2023 Samba Gold Award among U20 players. The Santos player had heavy competition in the category, but was chosen in the voting.
Samba Gold’s second place among U20 players went to Vitor Roque, a youth talent who played for Athletico Paranaense this year, but will soon be on the FC Barcelona squad. Winner of the 2022 edition, Endrick, from Palmeiras, finished in third place.
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At 20 years old, Marcos Leonardo had a breakthrough season in 2023. With the Brazilian National Team he was one of the main players in the FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign, held in Argentina between May and June. Even with Brazil falling in the quarter-finals, the striker managed to finish as the tournament’s second top scorer, with five goals scored, behind only the Italian Cesare Casadei.
In Brazil, Marcos Leonardo led a complicated season for Santos, leading the traditional club in the Brazilian League in the fight against relegation. Since the beginning of the league, the young player has been among the tournament’s top scorers.
In the last transfer window, Marcos Leonardo almost left Santos for European football. On that occasion, the player had an offer from AS Roma, which ended up being rejected by Santos. However, the expectation is that the young man will soon be in Europe. The international press has been reporting interest in the goalscorer from different clubs, mainly Premier League teams. The January transfer window could mark the Samba Gold winner’s departure to the other side of the Atlantic.
