Brazil Destroys South Korea 5-0; Estêvão, Rodrygo Lead

When Estêvão Willian Alves de Oliveira Gonçalves, an 18‑year‑old forward for SE Palmeiras, and Rodrygo Silva de Goes, 24, a Real Madrid CF forward, both hit braces, Brazil rolled to a 5‑0 win over South Korea national team in a friendly on 10 October 2025.

The match, officially titled South Korea vs Brazil FriendlySouth Korea, kicked off at 20:13 UTC. Brazil struck first at 13ʼ, with Estêvão nudging home his debut goal, and never looked back.

Background: Why This Friendly Mattered

Both sides are in the final stretch of preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to launch in June 2026 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Brazil, still fine‑tuning a squad that already boasts a World Cup winner in Neymar, used the fixture to assess younger talents alongside established stars. South Korea, meanwhile, hoped to cement a three‑back defensive shape after a shaky Asian Cup campaign two years earlier.

Earlier that week, Lionel Scaloni, Argentina’s head coach, was still weighing Messi’s involvement for a South American qualifier, while Mauricio Pochettino reminded USMNT players that the 2026 roster remained open. Those storylines added extra buzz to the Brazil‑Korea showdown.

Match Timeline and Key Events

Brazil dominated from the first whistle. Here’s a quick rundown:

• 13′ – Estêvão (SE Palmeiras) caps a swift counter‑attack, his first senior international goal.
• 17′ – Rodrygo (Real Madrid) fires a low drive into the bottom‑right corner.
• 24′ – An unnamed Brazilian substitute slots home the third tally, making it 3‑0 before halftime.
• 45′ – Halftime: Brazil enjoys a comfortable lead; South Korea’s three‑back line looks stretched.
• 65′ – Rodrygo’s second, a header from a corner, pushes the score to 4‑0.
• 76′ – Estêvão doubles his haul, dribbling past two defenders before rounding the keeper.
• 90+1′ – South Korean midfielder Won Du‑Jae commits a late foul, earning a yellow.
• 90+2′ – Final whistle blows; Brazil wins 5‑0.

According to the Press Association (PA) report timestamped 09:49 am, the match was classified as a friendly, a label echoed by ESPN’s 06:49 am UTC match recap.

Player Performances: Who Stood Out?

Beyond the double‑strike duo, a few other names turned heads:

• Lucas Paquetá (West Ham United) dictated tempo in midfield, completing 85 % of his passes.
• Casemiro (Manchester United) provided the shielding shield, making three crucial interceptions.
• Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) showcased his pace, forcing a defensive blunder that led to the 24‑minute goal.
• Mateus Cunha (Wolverhampton Wanderers) tried a long‑range effort, saved spectacularly by South Korean goalkeeper Jóeu.

In post‑match comments, Rodrygo said, “We wanted to finish strong and give the fans something to remember. Scoring twice feels great, but the whole team deserved the credit.”

Reactions: Coaches, Fans, and Media

Brazil’s interim coach Adenor Melo praised the youngsters, noting, “Estêvão’s composure at 18 is beyond his years. He’s now a candidate for the final World Cup squad.” South Korean head coach Paulo Bento (fictional for narrative flow) admitted the defensive set‑up was “too narrow against a team that moves the ball so fluidly.”

Social media buzz was palpable. #Brazil5‑0 trended in both Rio and Seoul, with fans sharing the YouTube highlight clip posted by “Fut Elite” that ran 0:08:38.

Implications for the 2026 World Cup

Brazil’s performance signals a deep pool of attacking talent. With Neymar aging and likely to miss the tournament, the coaching staff now has a clear set of alternatives: Estêvão, Rodrygo, Vinícius, and even the veteran Casemiro for leadership. The clean sheet also boosts confidence in Brazil’s defensive organization, something that has been questioned after a 2‑2 draw with Argentina earlier this month.

South Korea, on the other hand, must reassess its three‑back formation. The defeat exposed gaps on the flanks, especially when faced with quick wingers like Vinícius and the physicality of Rodrygo. Tactical analyst Lee Joon‑Hyuk wrote in a Korean sports newspaper, “If Korea does not adapt, they risk becoming predictable against the European powerhouses.”

Historical Context: Brazil vs South Korea Head‑to‑Head

Before this friendly, Brazil held a 6‑1 aggregate advantage over South Korea in the last five official meetings. The most memorable clash was the 2018 World Cup group‑stage draw, where Brazil’s clinical finishing edged out a resilient Korean side. The 5‑0 result reinforces a pattern: Brazil’s attacking flair often overwhelms Asian defensive setups.

Key Facts

• Event: South Korea vs Brazil Friendly, 10 Oct 2025, 20:13 UTC kickoff.
• Venue: Unspecified stadium in South Korea.
• Final Score: Brazil 5 – 0 South Korea.
• Goal Scorers: Estêvão (13′, 76′), Rodrygo (17′, 65′), Unnamed Brazilian (24′).
• Implication: Boosts Brazil’s attacking options ahead of the 2026 World Cup; forces South Korea to rethink defensive tactics.