Lucas Paquetá

Biography

Lucas Tolentino Coelho de Lima, better known as Lucas Paquetá (born August 27, 1997, in Rio de Janeiro), is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for West Ham United and is a former Flamengo player. Developed through Flamengo's youth academy, in 2018 he was one of the 12 standby players selected by Brazil national team coach Tite for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, being the youngest among the 35 players called up. In the same year, while playing for Flamengo, he received ESPN's Silver Ball Award (Bola de Prata), TV Gazeta's Mesa Redonda Trophy, and the Brasileirão Best Player Award (Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão), presented by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and GloboEsporte.com, all recognizing him as the best attacking midfielder in that year's Brazilian Championship. Following his rapid rise and impressive performances as a starter for Flamengo, he came to be regarded as one of the greatest prospects in Brazilian football. The midfielder is nicknamed "Paquetá" after the neighborhood where he was born, located on Paquetá Island in Rio de Janeiro.