Great highlight of Flamengo at the beginning of Brasileirãothe midfielder Nicolas de la Cruz assumed leadership of the Gold ball after the 5th round of the Brasileirão in ESPN Silver Ball Award.
The Uruguayan had a standout performance in the draw against Red Bull Bragantinoaway from home, providing excellent assistance to Bruno Henrique.
In this Brasileirão 2024, De La Cruz has two goals and two assists. With 6.74 points, the Uruguayan surpassed Gustavo Scarpaof Atlético-MG, which has 6.71 points. In this 5th round, De La Cruz was also included in the selection of the round as one of the best midfielders.
However, the club with the most representatives in the selection of the round was Athletico-PRwho won the Vasco 1-0 and took the lead in the competition. Furacão had the defender Kaique Rocha (who also returned to the championship’s general selection), the left-back Esquivel and the steering wheel Erickthe scorer of the goal.
Among the individual highlights, what shined was John Ricardoof Strength. The goalkeeper was the best of the round with 8.26 points, also having the highest score so far in the Brasileirão, surpassing Wesleyof Corinthianswhich in the last round had 8.22 points.
João Ricardo made nine saves against Corinthians, at the Neo Química Arena (another record in this edition), two of which were in clear goal situations. After his great performance, the goalkeeper also entered the general selection for the 2024 Bola de Prata.
Other highlights of this 5th round were the striker Lucianwho scored two goals in the victory of São Paulo over the Victory 3-1, in Salvador, and the young man Luis Guilhermeof Palm treeswho for the first time appears in the Bola de Prata selection in his career.
Eduardo Vargasfrom Galo, who also scored two goals, but in the draw against Fluminenseis in the selection of the round for the second time in a row.
The selection for the 5th round of the Silver Ball award was this: João Ricardo (Fortaleza), Santiago Arias (Bahia), Kaique Rocha (Athletico-PR), Pedro Henrique (RB Bragantino) and Esquivel (Athletico-PR); Erick (Athletico-PR), De la Cruz (Flamengo) and Igor Gomes (Atlético-MG); Eduardo Vargas (Atlético-MG), Luciano (São Paulo) and Luís Guilherme (Palmeiras). Coach: Rogério Ceni (Bahia).
The general selection for the Bola de Prata included four changes in relation to the ideal team for the 4th round. In the goal, João Ricardo took the lead instead of Claytonfrom Red Bull Bragantino.
In defense, Kaique Rochafrom Athletico-PR, returns to the national team in the Bastos, from Botafogo. Between the steering wheels, Fernandoof International (who had his game postponed due to rain in Porto Alegre), lost his position to Marlon Freitas, from Botafogo. In attack, Eduardo Vargas took his teammate’s place Paulinhofrom Atlético-MG.
The Bola de Prata selection after the 5th round looked like this: João Ricardo (Fortaleza), Saravia (Atlético-MG), Kaique Rocha (Athletico-PR), Gustavo Martins (Grêmio) and Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG); Marlon Freitas (Botafogo), Gustavo Scarpa (Atlético-MG), De La Cruz (Flamengo) and Canobbio (Athletico-PR); Wesley (Corinthians) and Eduardo Vargas (Atlético-MG). Coach: Gabriel Milito (Atlético-MG).
O ESPN Silver Ball Award there will be something new in 2024. Unlike recent years, when the championship team was formed in a 4-4-2 formation, this year the selection of the best will be more flexible from the middle forward.
Behind, the best goalkeeper, the two best defenders and the two full-backs (right and left) will be awarded. In the other six places in the ideal team, we will have a midfielder, a midfielder and a striker.
The other three players who will enter the selection will be those with the highest averages, regardless of position. However, with a maximum limit of 3 players per position.
Thus, we could have, for example, three midfielders, two midfielders and a striker, or 1 midfielder, 2 midfielders and 3 attackers. In each round, the selection scheme may vary.
Since 2017, the award has had a score made up of 40% of statistics (the Algorithm DataESPN) + 60% of journalists’ scores.
