The Grandfather’s Influence: Kauã Elias’ Rise in Brazilian Football by Yonni Kaknaev
Full name: Kauã Elias Nogueira
Date of birth: 28 March 2006 (18)
Place of birth: Uberlândia, Brazil
Height: 1.81 m
Weight: 71kg
Youth teams: Praia Clube (futsal), Fluminense
Current team: Fluminense, Brazil U17
Position: Centre-Forward, Second Forward, Winger
Preferred foot: Right
Market value: €4.00m
Contracted until: 2026
Similar Profiles: Nicolas Jackson, Marcus Thuram, Alexander Isak
Player History:
Kauã Elias Nogueira, born in Uberlândia, Brazil in 2006, was brought up by his grandfather, José Elias, who played amateur football. He started his journey in futsal at Praia Clube and caught the attention of Fluminense scouts in 2016. Signing his first pro contract with Fluminense in June 2021, it includes a hefty release clause of R$280 million (US$51.95 million) for foreign clubs. Known for his knack for scoring and creating goals, Elias has made waves in international tournaments and is recognized as one of the top talents born in 2006 globally (along with Brazilian fellows Endrick and Rayan).
Kauã Elias has also contributed massively on the international level, delivering outstanding numbers for Brazil U17 – in a total of 910 minutes played scoring 9 goals in 12 appearances. His true showcase of talent happened during Fluminense’s U16 European tour, claiming championships at three prestigious youth tournaments: the Heemskerk Cup in the Netherlands, the Geneva Cup in Switzerland, and the Scopigno Cup in Italy. Among the standout performers was the 16-year-old forward Kauã Elias at the time. Renowned for his goal-scoring ability, Elias impressively scored 16 goals in as many appearances during the European campaign. His outstanding performance secured him the title of top scorer in all three tournaments and notably singled him out as the standout player at the Geneva Cup.
Strengths:
- Finishing
- Control
- First touch
- Explosiveness
- Athleticism
- Technical ability
- Aerial duels
Weaknesses:
- Defensive contribution
- Consistency
- Concentration
- Discipline
Playing Style:
Kauã Elias, is a dynamic forward renowned for his versatility and technical prowess on the field. He excels in scoring goals with clinical finishing ability, often contributing with his creative playmaking ability and ball driving skills. Elias combines these attributes with a strong presence in the attacking third, making him a valuable asset to Fluminense and a prospect attracting attention from European clubs.
Elias recently featured for Fluminense in their latest league match against Cuiabá on July 21, where he secured victory for his team with a decisive goal in a 1-0 win. This marked his second consecutive Serie A appearance where he found the back of the net. In total for the 2024 season, the forward has scored two goals in Serie A, placing him among the team’s top scorers. Additionally, he was booked once – receiving one yellow card. Elias opened his account for the season with a goal against Criciúma in a 1-1 draw earlier on July 11 to set his proper breakout season. His adeptness at retaining possession under pressure highlights his tactical acumen, allowing him to either evade defenders with bursts of speed or make calculated passes to teammates, creating opportunities to exploit available space once more.
Elias thrives with the ball at his feet, utilizing his athleticism and nimble footwork to bypass defenders and drive towards the opponent’s penalty area. His ability to maintain possession under pressure showcases his tactical awareness, enabling him to either accelerate past defenders or distribute the ball strategically to teammates before finding open space to exploit again. While generally making astute decisions with excellent ball control and precise passing, Elias occasionally opts for ambitious long-range shots during promising attacking phases. Elias operates primarily as a second striker, although you may see him dropping to the wings – adept at dropping deep to initiate play or making well-timed late runs into scoring positions, as evidenced by his heatmap analysis.
Game Notes:
Game 1: Sao Paulo v Fluminense – Brasileirão Série A, Round 6 (13-05-2024)
- Featured as a striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation
- Played for 79’ minutes before being subbed off for David Terans
- Finished the game on 15/18 passing accuracy (83%)
- Worked hard on/off the ball, created 1 big chance during the game
- Extremely lively and willing to push hard, constantly opens up on the wing when the ball in possession
- Lost possession 11 times in 79 minutes
- Possesses great ball control in tight situations constantly beating the 1st man
- Showed determination to track back at counter attacks
Game 2: Botafogo v Fluminense – Brasileirão Série A, Round 8 (11-06-2024)
- Featured as a striker coming on for German Cano in a 4-2-3-1 formation
- Came on as a sub on the 13’ minute
- Very dynamic, not afraid to press the opposition when they go on counters
- Lost possession 3 times overall
- Completed 2 out of 3 dribbles, showcasing his ability to take on defenders and penetrate the opposition’s defense
*Notable note: His dynamic and energetic style added fresh impetus to the attack, and his willingness to press was valuable in high-pressure situations.
Game 3: Cruzeiro v Fluminense – Brasileirão Série A, Round 10 (19-06-2024)
- Featured as a striker coming on for German Cano in a 4-2-3-1 formation
- Came on as a sub on the 63’ minute
- Finished the game on 7/8 passing accuracy (88%)
- Consistently worked hard, showed readiness to retreat to deeper positions and cover the wings when necessary.
- Was showing willingness to collaborate on the left wing, driving forward on multiple occasions
- Very dynamic, not afraid to press when off the ball
- Lost possession 5 times in a span of 27 minutes
Kauã Elias setting up a teammate – attacking on the wing
Kauã manages to create an opportunity that led to a shot on target
Game 4: Criciúma v Fluminense – Brasileirão Série A, Round 16 (11-07-2024)
- Featured as a striker coming on for John Kennedy in a 4-2-3-1 formation
- Came on as a sub on the 61’ minute
- Engaging in high pressing situations when the opposition in possession
- Missed a crucial opportunity attempting a backheel shot at 1:0 down (88’)
- His performance showed promise, though he can refine his decision-making to reduce unforced errors and improve ball retention.
- Connected well with teammates in both short and long-range passing sequences. Scored the equalizer moments later at the 89’ minute after an assist by Esquerdinha
- Could improve decision making in the final third, however, was involved in the build up many times by playmaking from the back areas
- Maintained a strong work rate, finished the game with 6 shots on target
- Lost possession 7 times in a span of 29 minutes, indicating areas for improvement in maintaining ball control and decision-making under pressure.
Chance on target (73’)
Chance on target (88’)
Game 5: Cuiaba v Fluminense – Brasileirão Série A, Round 18 (21-07-2024)
- Featured as a striker coming on for German Cano in a 4-5-1 formation
- Came on as a sub on the 67’ minute
- Used his pace and quick decision making effectively to catch Cuiaba not concentrated, looked comfortable running at defenders
- Finished the match with one goal scored with a sum of 0.34 (xG)
- Attempted 4 dribbles overall with 3 of them successfully
- Lost possession 10 times in a span of 23 minutes
- The player won 50% of his duels, showing decent physicality in duels
- The arrival of the new coach (Menezes) seems to have impact well on the player’s performance
Kauã Elias changing his running direction to approach the ball in his goal
What’s next? Prediction for the future:
Elias is still a very young prospect, with that being said – the ability of playing primarily as a striker but also being able to play wide, makes him a very interesting profile for the future. As Elias progresses, he remains a highly promising talent set to make a substantial impact both at home and on the global stage. His combination of technical finesse, scoring ability, and unwavering commitment to improvement positions him as a standout rising talent in Brazilian football. Given his early success and prolific goal-scoring ability in youth tournaments, Kauã Elias is likely to attract significant attention from European clubs soon, as long as he remains playing consistently in Fluminense. His blend of technical skill, athleticism, and goal-scoring instinct positions him as a promising prospect for clubs looking to bolster their attacking options. In the next few years, it’s plausible to anticipate Elias making a move to a mid to top-tier European club, where he would initially integrate into their reserve squads to further develop and adapt to the European style of play.
As he continues to mature physically and tactically, Elias has the potential to establish himself as a regular starter for a European club, potentially in one of the top leagues like the Premier League, Serie A, or Bundesliga. On numerous games watching him, his is dynamic and energetic style adds fresh momentum to the attack. His ability to score and contribute effectively to team play would be crucial in cementing his place in the starting lineup. By his mid twenties, if he continues to progress as expected, Elias could become a key player for both club and potentially country, representing Brazil at senior level. His journey from the youth academy in Fluminense to European football stardom could mark him as one of the notable Brazilian talents of his generation. In my humble opinion, like any young talent, Kauã’s path to a successful career in the top European leagues may be shaped by external factors such as injuries, adaptation hurdles and change of tactics. Nonetheless, considering his impressive early achievements and strong physical attributes, Elias seems well-positioned to make a smooth transition and leave a mark in European football.