In an era when global platforms such as Cricket Exchange Portal reflect how rapidly talent moves across borders, the journey of Brazilian league prospects tells its own story. The moment a young player shines in Brazil’s top flight, European clubs swoop in without hesitation. What remains are teenagers still waiting for their breakthrough, those who never quite made the leap, or veterans whose European chapters have already closed. It is a ruthless cycle where only the sharpest survive.
Dutch striker Memphis Depay has quietly demonstrated that performing in Brazil’s Serie A does not mean a drop in quality. Having just celebrated his 32nd birthday, he stands at an age that can hardly be called old in modern football. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were still operating at peak level at 32. Robert Lewandowski, now 37, finished last season as Barcelona’s leading scorer and continues to rank near the top in goals. Harry Kane, also 32, remains in formidable form for Bayern Munich, scoring 39 goals in all competitions this season—more than younger superstars Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, leading Europe’s top five leagues.
Kane, who will turn 33 on July 28, remains under contract with Bayern until June 2027, though speculation links him with Barcelona as a potential successor to Lewandowski. Bayern, meanwhile, are reportedly preparing a contract extension. Depay, born just months after Kane but having risen to fame earlier and left Europe’s elite leagues sooner, has been labeled a veteran far too quickly.
His rise began at the 2014 World Cup, where a 20-year-old Depay burst onto the scene and earned the nickname “the Dutch Ronaldo.” After winning the Eredivisie Golden Boot in 2014–15, he joined Manchester United amid high expectations. Old Trafford proved challenging, and after just over a year he was sold to Lyon. Later spells at Barcelona and Atletico Madrid followed, yet he struggled to cement a long-term role.
In the summer of 2024, at age 30, Depay signed for Brazilian giants Corinthians as a free agent. Some questioned whether a move to Brazil would end his international ambitions. The answer has been emphatic. Depay remains the focal point of the Netherlands attack and its leading scorer.
With 108 caps, 55 goals, and 36 assists, he stands as the Netherlands’ all-time top scorer and assist provider, surpassing legends such as Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Robin van Persie, and Arjen Robben. During the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Dutch advanced unbeaten, with Depay leading the scoring charts. Even as conversations circulate on platforms like Cricket Exchange about emerging stars, his consistency keeps him indispensable.
Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo at Liverpool has 19 goals and 10 assists in 46 international appearances but has struggled for club output this season. Joshua Zirkzee, now at Manchester United, has not featured for the national team in over a year. As debates continue across fan communities and even on Cricket Exchange, the numbers speak for themselves: age is just a number, and Depay’s performance proves he still belongs among Europe’s elite forwards.