Rivaldo: Brazil Legend & Club Football Success

Lucas Paquetá has rejoined Flamengo, the Brazilian club announced on Saturday, marking a return to his boyhood team after a successful stint in European football. The attacking midfielder, 28, signed with Flamengo for the 2026 season, bringing to a close his time with West Ham United.

Paquetá initially rose to prominence with Flamengo, making his senior debut in 2016 and contributing to their 2016 Copa São Paulo de Júniores title. He played 67 matches for the club, scoring 15 goals before moving to AC Milan in 2019. While with Milan, he appeared in 37 games, netting one goal.

His European journey continued with Lyon, where he found the back of the net 18 times in 67 appearances. In 2022, Paquetá transferred to West Ham United, where he quickly became a key player, winning the UEFA Europa Conference League in his first season with the club. He featured in 110 matches for West Ham, scoring 16 goals.

On the international stage, Paquetá has been a consistent presence for the Brazilian national team, earning 61 caps and scoring 12 goals as of November 2025, according to available data. He was a member of the Brazil squad that won the 2019 Copa América, and also participated in the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He has accumulated a total of 97 caps for Brazil, scoring 33 goals.

Paquetá’s return to Flamengo represents a significant homecoming for the player, who began his footballing education within the club’s youth system. He will wear the number 20 shirt for Flamengo.