The internationalization of Brazilian players and the decline in national football performance: paradox or result?

This study investigates the relationship between the internationalization of top Brazilian football players and the decline in the performance of the Brazilian national team and clubs in international competitions. The objective is to understand whether the export of talent affects the competitive capacity of Brazilian football. The method adopted is documentary, using data extracted from FIFA, Transfermarkt, the World Bank, and academic databases to test the formulated hypotheses. The hypotheses were classified according to specific variables, dimensions, and indicators to evaluate the proposed relationships. A comparison with the Argentine case was also made. The research reveals a relationship in which early export of talent contributes to the decline in the performance of the Brazilian national team and clubs in international competitions. The results suggest reconsidering talent management strategies in Brazilian football, indicating that talent retention can increase clubs' and national teams' competitive capacity. By highlighting the impact of internationalization on national football performance, this study provides data for future research and discussion on the globalization of football. The study offers a broader perspective on the implications of the internationalization of Brazilian players, contributing to understanding how globalization affects sports performance and the challenges of maintaining competitiveness.