Gabriel is not one of the flashy Brazilian attackers that show up on the highlight reels, but as the backbone of their defense, his performance will go a long way to determining their success. The attacking names are obvious: Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Neymar, Endrick, Rodrygo if healthy, and whoever else Carlo Ancelotti can fit into the front line. But Brazil’s recent World Cup failures have not just been about lacking magic. They have also been about not always looking sturdy enough when the tournament gets tight.
That is where Gabriel comes in. He is 28, left-footed, 6-foot-3, in his prime, and coming off several seasons as one of the most reliable center backs in the Premier League. Transfermarkt values him at $88.2m, coming off a season where he anchored an elite defense that carried Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years, with a chance to also win the Champions League.
For Brazil, Gabriel gives Ancelotti a physical, left-footed defender who can defend the box, attack set pieces, and play with enough composure to survive in a team that wants to push numbers forward. He makes Brazil more difficult to bully, with strength in the air, aggression in duels, and aerial ability on set pieces, all things that matter even more in tournament soccer. Brazil have plenty of smooth defenders. Gabriel gives them a little more edge.
That edge could matter right away. Brazil’s group with Morocco, Scotland and Haiti should be manageable, but it is not a total stroll. Morocco are dangerous enough to test Brazil in transition, Scotland can make games physical, and Haiti are the kind of opponent Brazil will be expected to beat cleanly. Gabriel is the kind of defender who helps keep those games from getting weird.
The bigger question is the knockout rounds. Brazil will score goals. They almost always do. But if they are finally going to win their first World Cup since 2002, they need the back line to remain fortified at key moments. Gabriel provides the grit and athleticism to that back line, to pair with the veteran guile of Marquinhos. This should allow the Brazilian defense to have confidence against the top attackers in the tournament.