Barca’s Bold Bet on Brazil’s Next Big Thing: Ryan Vitor’s Skyrocketing Rise

The Rise of Ryan Vitor

The Brazilian talent Ryan Vitor, Vasco da Gama’s 19-year-old left winger, burst onto the scene to become one of the league’s most exciting forwards, drawing calls from his coach for Brazil selection under Carlo Ancelotti.

According to the Spanish newspaper Sport, Ryan drew Barcelona’s attention as early as 2022, when he was only 15, seen as one of the brightest talents coming through Vasco’s academy, a club with a storied history in Brazil.

Deco, who was then serving as an external adviser to president Laporta, urged Barcelona to move for the player, viewed as a promising option for the future.

Ryan, a product of the modest Parreira do Vasco neighborhood surrounding the São Januário stadium, was firmly on Barça’s scouting radar as they followed the Brazilian market with care.

The plan at the time was a mid-term project: he would not leave his club before the summer of 2025 when he turns 18, and would first join Barça Atlètic to adapt to the club’s tactical approach before stepping up to the first team.

He remained in Brazil to continue his development, making his first-team debut for Vasco in early 2023 at age 16, becoming the youngest academy graduate to feature for the club in the 21st century.

Despite natural teenage fluctuations, Ryan has cemented his place in Vasco’s starting XI, demonstrating a rare combination of speed, technique, and goal threat.

A Complete Forward

Now 19, Ryan is already one of the standout players in Brazil’s top flight in 2025, thanks to his eye-catching runs, finishing ability, and rapid progression.

Much of his success is attributed to coach Fernando Diniz, who has honed his talents across all facets and provided the right environment for him to flourish.

Many observers say Ryan bears traits reminiscent of Adriano, the Emperor, in terms of physical presence and instinctive finishing.

His statistics are impressive for his age: five goals in his last five matches, including a decisive strike in a 1-1 draw with Flamengo at Maracanã when Flamengo were leading the table.

Ryan’s attacking contribution has been central to Vasco’s revival, with just one defeat in the last nine games, lifting them from a relegation scrap toward Libertadores qualification and a Brazil Cup semifinal.

Calls to Ancelotti

Diniz has praised Ryan as a truly different player, potentially the most complete Brazilian forward of his generation. He can play on either wing, operate as a playmaker, or serve as a traditional center-forward with ease, and he has a special relationship with the goal.

Diniz, who coached Brazil in the latter half of 2023, asserted that Ryan has all the attributes to represent the Seleção under Ancelotti, noting the attacker’s versatility and immense potential.

Nevertheless, his preferred right-wing position is crowded with talent, including Estêvão (the current starter), Rodrygo, Vinícius Jr, Rafinha, and Luís Henrique, making a quick move difficult to secure.

The alignment of Ryan with the same flank as Lamine Yamal at Barcelona was one reason the Catalan club did not push for the transfer immediately, instead prioritizing other areas such as the left wing, where they recently brought in loan signing Marcus Rashford.

Vasco Da Gama are aware that keeping the jewel will likely be temporary, with expectations that Ryan could depart in upcoming windows—either January or, more likely, in the summer of 2026—as European clubs pursue a player capable of adapting to multiple leagues.

Under the CIES Radar

The CIES Football Observatory spotlighted the player, valuing him at between €19.6m and €25.3m, depending on the buying club’s appetite.

His current contract runs through the end of 2026, giving Vasco meaningful negotiating leverage. Yet a lack of long-term extension could dampen his value over time, fueling further speculation about future plans for the youngster.

The same report notes that Ryan has become the fourth player to feature in the Prospect Sheet, the global scouting series of rising talents, and the first player selected from outside Europe, underscoring his growing international stature.

Ryan represents a new wave of Brazilian talent feeding European clubs’ interest. His eye-catching numbers from a young age, rapid development, tactical versatility, and potential to feature for Brazil soon keep him squarely in the spotlight.

Two punchlines to end on a lighter note: 1) If he signs for Barca, expect a lot more samba on the pitch than on the dance floor. 2) If his career keeps taking off, Barça might finally learn what “tiki-taka with a samba twist” really tastes like.