Rayan: Brazil’s latest gem
A product of Vasco da Gama, the forward’s life is deeply intertwined with football, and he is now a step closer to Seleçao selection for the FIFA World Cup.
Rayan is one of the new faces in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad
The Bournemouth forward earned his first call-up at just 19 years of age
A graduate of Vasco’s academy, he is also the son of a former player from the same club
It is impossible to tell Rayan’s story without speaking about football and about Vasco da Gama. For him, the two are almost inseparable. Now joining up with the Brazilian national team for the first time, the 19-year-old forward has spent nearly his entire footballing journey so far at São Januário, a stadium that was part of his life long before he was old enough to remember it.
Rayan is the son of Valkmar, a former Vasco player who won multiple titles with the club where his own career began. This week, his father will be watching on with pride as his son represents Brazil’s senior team for the first time, having been called up by Carlo Ancelotti for friendlies against France and Croatia in the United States.
“I am over the moon. It’s a childhood dream coming true – not just for me, but for my wife and my family. I’m here,” he said, reflecting on his journey through Brazil’s youth teams. “I played for the U-15s, U-17s, U-20s, and now the senior team, which was always the dream. To achieve it… I’m very happy and very grateful.”
Rayan joined Vasco at the age of seven, initially playing futsal. He grew up in Barreira do Vasco, the neighbourhood surrounding São Januário, and the club became part of his identity.
During his development, he grew accustomed to hearing stories of some of the great forwards produced by Vasco, including Romario and Roberto Dinamite – the latter a club legend and former president who shared his experience with the young prospect.
In a video recorded in 2016, Dinamite offered advice to a young Rayan, who was playing for the club’s U-11 side at the time.
“Many people will appear along the way, but keep your father and mother as your reference – they are the ones who truly care about you. If you do well, Vasco will call you and offer you the best contract,” the club’s all-time record goalscorer told Rayan. “It’s all down to you. There’s a long road ahead.”
“I want to be alive to see you score goals for Vasco.”
In 2022, on Dinamite’s 68th birthday, Vasco paid tribute to their greatest-ever goalscorer. Rayan, then a youth player, was chosen to present him with a commemorative poster, which labelled him as “the greatest of them all”.
On 8 January 2023, Dinamite sadly passed away. Just 11 days later, Rayan made his professional debut, becoming the youngest player to represent Vasco in the 21st century.
While he has drawn inspiration from Vasco’s past, Rayan has also had the opportunity to play alongside some of the club’s best-known players. In 2024, Vasco announced the signing of Philippe Coutinho, a Brazil international who has represented the Seleçao at two World Cups.
It did not take long for the young forward to impress Coutinho, who was never short of praise for his former team-mate. During their time playing together, the experienced midfielder frequently referred to his younger counterpart as a “rare gem” whenever asked about him.
“Our gem. He’s a great kid, he works incredibly hard. He’s grounded, very humble, and I’m sure he has a bright future ahead of him. He works for it, and he deserves it,” Coutinho said after a derby against Fluminense in last season’s Brazilian league campaign. “It’s a pleasure to play alongside him at the start of his career.”
Alongside the experienced playmaker, Rayan enjoyed a breakthrough season last year. With 20 goals in all competitions, he helped Vasco reach the Copa do Brasil final – a campaign made possible in part by the confidence shown in him by coach Fernando Diniz, who backed his continued role at the club in 2025.
“Tomorrow’s Rayan has everything to be even better than the Rayan we see now. He is very special,” Diniz once said.
Rayan’s performances soon attracted the attention of Bournemouth, who signed him earlier this year. Yet he remains clear about the importance of Vasco in his journey.
“Vasco played a huge role in my development – I had a very good year there last year,” he said. “Now I’m at Bournemouth, I’ve arrived and I’m doing an important job here too. The coach [Ancelotti] saw that and gave me this opportunity. Vasco was a very important part of my journey.”
Rayan has adapted quickly to English football. In his first three matches, he scored twice and provided an assist.
“Since I arrived, I’ve had support from a fellow Brazilian in Evanilson, from the club president and from the coach [Iraola]. The club really welcomed me, and I’ve started strongly with goals and assists. That’s putting me on the right path.”
Bournemouth’s matches are closely followed in Brazil – particularly by Vasco supporters, eager to see their “gem” continue to develop on the global stage. It is no surprise, then, that his call-up has been widely celebrated.
“I’m very happy with the support from the Brazilian fans. I received so many messages on social media. I feel honoured. I hope I can bring them joy.”