From 11/10 to 4/10 - 'poor' Newcastle United star slammed by Brazilian media after what he did vs Colombia
Newcastle United pair Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes were in action for Brazil against Colombia.
Joelinton made his return to the Brazil national team - just days after starring for Newcastle United in their Carabao Cup final win over Liverpool.
The 28-year-old was described as an “absolute machine” and was given an 11/10 in NewcastleWorld’s player ratings, as the Magpies ended their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy.
But there was little time to celebrate, with Joelinton and teammate Bruno Guimaraes swiftly jumping on a flight to Brazil to link up with the national side ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.
The pair were in action versus Colombia in the early hours of Friday morning. Guimaraes was named in the starting XI while Joelinton started on the bench before an injury to Gerson saw him introduced on the half-hour mark.
Joelinton’s Brazil return doesn’t go to plan
Joelinton was making his first appearance for Brazil since November 2023, but his return seemingly didn’t go to plan.
Shortly after being introduced, the former Hoffenheim forward gave the ball away on the edge of his own box, which resulted in Liverpool’s Luis Diaz making it 1-1.
Fortunately, it didn’t prove costly with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior scoring a 99th minute winner. That said, the Brazilian media still came down hard on Joelinton, with Globo Esporte and Goal giving him a 4/10 - the lowest score of any player.
Globo Esporte wrote: “He came on poorly. In addition to losing the ball at the edge of the area during the Colombian goal, he gave space to his back and arrived late in some disputes. He received a fair yellow card.
“In the 39th minute of the second half, he caused danger with a shot from the edge of the area.”
Goal wrote: “Came into the match early due to a Gerson injury and immediately committed an error, leading to Colombia's opening goal. He recovered well in the second half, but that mistake loomed large until Vini's winner.”
Bruno Guimaraes gets slightly higher mark
Meanwhile, Guimaraes, who will miss Brazil’s visit to Argentina on Wednesday through a yellow card suspension, was handed a 6/10 by both the aforementioned publications.
“He made the game clearer with good side changes and throws,” Globo Esporte said. “At 15, he arrived late, committed a foul near the Colombian area and received a card that will keep him out of the derby against Argentina.
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“He made a good individual play at the beginning of the second half, but after that he didn't appear much and was substituted.”
Goal noted: “Solid in the middle of the park as normal, but was overwhelmed at times by Colombia's press. His partnership with Joelinton felt more natural after Gerson's departure, but that was expected for the Newcastle duo.”