Paulinho was the man of the moment, scoring a dramatic extra-time winner to send Palmeiras into the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup with a 1-0 victory over fellow Brazilian side Botafogo on Saturday.
The tense all-Brazilian clash at Lincoln Financial Field remained deadlocked through 90 minutes, forcing the match into an additional 30 minutes of extra time. With penalties looming, Paulinho broke the stalemate in the 100th minute. The forward embarked on a scintillating solo run, weaving past the Botafogo defense before coolly slotting the ball into the back of the net.
The goal secured a hard-fought victory for Palmeiras and booked their place in the last eight of the prestigious tournament. They are now set to face the winner of the match between Benfica and Chelsea.
This crucial goal continues a strong run of form for the 24-year-old attacker, who has become a key figure for the São Paulo-based club. His performance will undoubtedly heighten the interest of European clubs who have reportedly been monitoring his progress.
In other news concerning a different player with the same name, former Barcelona and Tottenham midfielder Paulinho announced his retirement from professional football in September 2024. The 36-year-old, who also had a successful stint in the Chinese Super League with Guangzhou Evergrande, decided to hang up his boots after a decorated career that saw him win league titles in both Spain and China, as well as the Copa Libertadores with Corinthians.
