On the night when West Ham United playmaker Lucas Paqueta made his return to the Brazilian national team, scoring in a 3-0 destruction of Chile, Carlo Ancelotti insisted this was merely a sign of things to come.
After Paqueta was acquitted of spot-fixing charges following a gruelling two-year investigation, the former Real Madrid, Chelsea, AC Milan and Bayern Munich coach did not need to be asked twice.
West Ham United’s in-form number ten made an immediate return to the Selecao fold for the first international break of the new campaign.
Now, Hammers skipper Jarrod Bowen expected that West Ham would see a freer, happier, lighter Lucas Paqueta following a miserable saga which threatened his entire career as well as ruining an £80 million move to Manchester City.
Bowen’s prediction could hardly have been justified in a more emphatic fashion. The back-post header which doubled Brazil’s lead during Thursday’s World Cup qualifier at home to Chile was his fourth in four successive matches for club and country.
It is not just his relatively new-found nose for goal, though, that has Carlo Ancelotti ready to print Paqueta’s name onto his team sheet in permanent marker.
Lucas Paqueta celebrates during Nottingham Forest v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
Carlo Ancelotti raves about West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta as Brazil beat Chile
Brazilian publication UOL report that Paqueta’s inclusion ‘changed the game’ for the Selecao once he was introduced in the second-half, scoring almost immediately after he stepped onto the pitch.
He and Luiz Henrique, the Zenit St Petersburg forward who assisted the West Ham star with a delightful cross shortly, were the two ‘standout’ performers.
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Ancelotti highlighted Paqueta’s ‘technical qualities’ when handing the 28-year-old a route back into the national team set-up last week, while expressing a desire to get further acquainted with a player he had never worked with before.
LUCAS PAQUETÁ TÁ DE VOLTA!
Na primeira participação dele, Luiz Henrique faz a jogadaça, cruza com perfeição e o camisa 11 sobe bonito pra testar pro fundo da rede!
ISSO É BRASIL! 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/TPa1ZRju92
— brasil (@CBF_Futebol) September 5, 2025
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Now, having watched Paqueta in full flow and in the flesh, the five-time Champions League-winning Italian is ready to make him one of the first picks again.
“Because of his quality, Paqueta has to be here with us because you have a player who can play in different ways,” Ancelotti told reporters after Chelsea’s Estevao and Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes joined the former Lyon and AC Milan star on the scoresheet.
“Today, he played as an attacking midfielder. I think he has no problem playing in a double-pivot as well. He has great ball control skills.”
Heading into the international break after Paqueta was nominated for the Goal of the Month award, his Chelsea screamer going up against Richarlison’s overhead kick and Dominik Szoboszlai’s thunderous free-kick, he has actually scored in three successive appearances before.
During his first season with the Hammers, and with Lyon in 2021. Paqueta is breaking new ground, however, with four in four games.
Paqueta thinks dream Brazil comeback was written in the stars
Speaking to SporTV, Paqueta feels that his latest strike was written in the stars. An element of destiny about the header which capped an emotional and joyous couple of days on and off the pitch.
“Man, I think it’s a unique feeling that I felt today,” Paqueta beamed. “I think it was written, returning to Maracana, which is my home, being able to score and help the team again.
“I’m very happy after everything I’ve been through, what I’ve endured these last two years. Now I can finally play my light football and I hope to help the team a lot.
“I had the complete work of God in my life. He listened to me when I cried, when I was afraid, to me, my wife, and my children, and he supported me and transformed me. This complete work was written.
“A return to the national team at the Maracana with a goal, and I want to dedicate it to my wife and children.”