Kauã Elias

Kauã Elias
Elias in 2023
Personal information
Full name Kauã Elias Nogueira[1]
Date of birth (2006-03-28) 28 March 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth Uberlândia, Brazil
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Fluminense
Number 39
Youth career
2017–2023 Fluminense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Fluminense 21 (3)
International career‡
2023– Brazil U17 2 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 March 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 2 April 2023

Kauã Elias Nogueira (born 28 March 2006) is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for Fluminense.

Early life

Elias was raised by his grandfather, José Elias, a former goalkeeper who played amateur football in the Uberlândia municipality, as his parents were busy with work.[2]

Club career

Having played football on the fields of Uberlândia with his grandfather, Elias started his career with futsal school Praia Clube.[3] His performances eventually led to him being noticed by a scout from professional side Fluminense in mid-2016.[2] He was invited to trial with the club in Xerém, but his grandfather was initially reluctant to take him due to the high costs of travel. However, after hearing what he described as a "divine voice" while napping, telling him to take his grandson to the trial, the two embarked on the trip to Xerém and Elias' trial was successful.[2]

Though he was a forward, Elias would get more assists than goals in his early career with Fluminense. His grandfather offered him R$25 (US$4.64) for every goal he scored, as in incentive to encourage him to be more clinical in front of goal, but soon had to retract his offer, as Elias would score too many goals.[2] This bet would prove fruitful for both Elias and Fluminense, as he continued this prolific form as he progressed through the academy, finishing as top scorer at a number of international tournaments.[4]

He signed his first professional contract with the club in June 2021, keeping him with the club until 2027, with a release clause to foreign clubs worth an estimated R$280 million (US$51.95 million).[4] On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.[5]

International career

Elias was first called up to the Brazil under-17 team in January 2023.[6] He was then called up again for the 2023 South American U-17 Championship, and in the first game against Ecuador, he scored two goals, though his side went on to draw the game 2–2.[7][8]

Honours

Fluminense

References

  1. ^ Kauã Elias at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b c d Ferreira, Filipe (30 March 2023). ""Voz divina" e bicho por gol: a trajetória de Kauã Elias, atacante da seleção sub-17 e do Fluminense" ["Divine voice" and animal per goal: the trajectory of Kauã Elias, striker for the U-17 team and Fluminense]. ge.globo.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Kauã Elias - Conheça o uberlandense artilheiro do Fluminense" [Kauã Elias - Meet Fluminense's top scorer from Uberlândia]. revistasoberana.com.br (in Portuguese). 21 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b Garcia, Gustavo; Lima, Thiago (6 September 2022). "Multa de R$ 280 mi e 16 gols em 16 jogos: quem é o atacante destaque do Fluminense Sub-16 na Europa?" [BRL 280 million fine and 16 goals in 16 games: who is Fluminense Under-16's standout striker in Europe?]. ge.globo.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  5. ^ Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (11 October 2023). "Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Kauã Elias e Matheus Reis são convocados para defender a Seleção Brasileira Sub-17" [Kauã Elias and Matheus Reis are called up to defend the Brazilian Under-17 team]. fluminense.com.br (in Portuguese). 18 January 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Promessa do Flu, atacante de Uberlândia é convocado para o Sul-Americano sub-17" [Promise of Flu, striker from Uberlândia is called up for the U-17 South American]. ge.globo.com (in Portuguese). 10 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Ecuador no se dio por vencido y le empató a Brasil en la agonía" [Ecuador did not give up and tied Brazil in agony]. es-us.deportes.yahoo.com (in Spanish). 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.