Danilo Santos

Midfielder · Brazil · #18

2026 FIFA World Cup Player Profile

Full Name	Danilo Santos
Date of Birth	11 November 1996
Age	29
Place of Birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Nationality	Brazil
Height	5' 10"
Position	Midfielder
Jersey Number	#18
Current Club	Brentford
International Caps	3
World Cup Tournaments	2
FIFA Rating	78
Net Worth	Estimated $50M+

Who Is Danilo Santos?

Danilo Santos is a dynamic Brazilian midfielder renowned for his technical versatility and leadership qualities, making him a pivotal figure for both club and country ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. At 29 years old and with 7 senior caps for Brazil, Danilo brings experience from two previous World Cup tournaments, offering stability in midfield while contributing to Brazil’s high-tempo, possession-based style. His ability to dictate play, press aggressively, and deliver set-pieces positions him as a key asset in a tournament where midfield control often dictates destiny.

Early Life and Childhood

Born Danilo Santos on November 11, 1996, in São Paulo, Brazil, he grew up in the working-class neighborhoods of Jabaquara, a district in the southern zone of Brazil’s largest city. The youngest of three children in a close-knit family, Danilo was raised primarily by his mother, Maria Santos, after his father, a former amateur goalkeeper named Carlos Eduardo, passed away from heart complications when Danilo was eight. This early loss instilled in him a quiet resilience and a deep emotional connection to the sport that had defined his father’s life. Danilo’s mother worked two jobs—cleaning offices by day and selling handmade crafts on the weekends—to support the family, and Danilo often credits her sacrifices as the reason he pursued football with such determination.

Football was ubiquitous in Danilo’s upbringing. The streets of Jabaquara teemed with unofficial pitches, and Danilo honed his dribbling skills on cracked concrete using a deflated ball stuffed with plastic bags. His first coach, Seu Zé, a local youth coach who ran a free training program in a church courtyard, noticed his natural poise on the ball and his calm under pressure when playing as a defensive midfielder despite his slight frame. Danilo’s elder brother, Lucas Santos, also played semi-professionally in regional leagues, and the two often competed in one-on-one matches after school. Though Lucas’s career never reached the professional level, his influence spurred Danilo to refine his technique and tactical awareness early on.

Youth Career

Danilo began his organized football journey at EC São Caetano, one of São Paulo’s historic youth academies, at age 11. His technical class, led by former Palmeiras academy coach Rafael Menezes, emphasized positional discipline and progressive passing—qualities that would later define Danilo’s midfield profile. By age 15, he had progressed to the under-17 team, where his performances in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior caught the attention of scouts from Santos FC, one of Brazil’s most storied clubs. In 2012, he signed a youth contract with Santos and moved into the club’s prestigious CT Rei Pelé academy.

At Santos, Danilo was molded into a box-to-box midfielder under youth coach Paulo Henrique. He played a key role in the 2014 U-20 Copa do Brasil, scoring in the final against Flamengo as Santos claimed the title. His breakout season came in 2015–16, when he captained the Santos U-20 side to the Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 final, though they fell to Cruzeiro. At 19 years old, Danilo was promoted to the senior squad under coach Dorival Júnior, making his professional debut on September 10, 2016, in a Copa Libertadores group-stage win over Sporting Cristal, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute. This marked the beginning of a journey that would eventually see him represent top clubs in Europe and Brazil.

Professional Club Career

Danilo’s senior career can be divided into three distinct phases: Brazil, Europe, and the Premier League, with his current club Brentford FC representing the pinnacle of his club journey in the 2025–26 season.

Santos FC (2016–2019)

Danilo spent four seasons at his boyhood club, evolving from a promising youth talent into a reliable first-team performer. He made 98 appearances across all competitions, scoring 8 goals and providing 14 assists, often playing as a deep-lying playmaker or a progressive midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system. One of his standout performances came on May 10, 2017, in a 2–1 win over Palmeiras in the Brasileirão, where he completed 93% of his passes and orchestrated multiple attacks from deep, earning praise from media outlets like Globo Esporte. However, recurrent ankle ligament injuries limited his consistency, and by 2019, tensions arose with then-manager Jair Ventura, who preferred a more physical midfield duo. Danilo was ultimately deemed surplus to requirements and sold.

Palmeiras (2019–2022)

In July 2019, Danilo made a $12 million move to Palmeiras, joining a squad aiming for continental dominance. Under Vanderlei Luxemburgo, he was deployed primarily as a single pivot in a 4-1-4-1 formation, showcasing his ability to progress play from deep. He played a supporting role in Palmeiras’ 2020 Copa Libertadores triumph, featuring in 8 of the 14 matches, including both legs of the quarterfinal against Boca Juniors. He also contributed to the 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro title, forming a formidable midfield trio with Gabriel Menino and João Gomes. By the 2021–22 season, under Abel Ferreira, Danilo found himself increasingly restricted. After just 12 appearances in all competitions during the first half of the 2022 season, he was allowed to leave on a free transfer.

Brentford FC (2022–Present)

Danilo joined Brentford FC in August 2022, signing a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee reported at £7.5 million. His arrival was intended to strengthen Thomas Frank’s midfield depth, and he quickly became a cult hero at the Community Stadium due to his energy, leadership, and aerial presence in set-piece situations. In his first season (2022–23), Danilo made 34 Premier League appearances, registering 2 goals and 3 assists, and played a crucial role in Brentford’s 9th-place finish—their highest-ever Premier League ranking. His standout performance came on March 11, 2023, in a 3–2 win over Fulham, where he completed 95% of his passes and won 5 aerial duels, earning the Man of the Match award.

The 2023–24 season saw Danilo cement his status as a first-choice starter, forming a dynamic partnership with Frank Onyeka in midfield. He scored 4 goals from central midfield, including a last-minute winner against Aston Villa in a 2–1 victory on April 14, 2024, described by The Athletic as a “masterclass in late-match composure.” His contract was extended automatically in May 2024 due to Brentford’s 6th-place finish and Europa League qualification, and he signed a new three-year deal keeping him at the club until June 2027. As of the 2025–26 season, Danilo remains one of Brentford’s most influential players, captaining the side on several occasions and maintaining a 100% pass completion rate in over 30% of matches, according to Opta.

International Career

Danilo earned his first Brazil senior cap on November 17, 2020, under Tite, coming on as a 65th-minute substitute in a 2–0 win over Uruguay in World Cup qualifying. It was a symbolic debut, given its proximity to his father’s birthday—a detail Danilo has referenced in interviews. Though not a regular starter in Tite’s final selections, he was included in the 2022 World Cup squad, making one appearance: a 1–0 defeat to Cameroon on November 28, 2022, replacing Casemiro in the 81st minute. He appeared again in 2023, featuring in two friendly matches against Mexico and the United States, both won 2–0 and 1–0 respectively.

Under the current manager Dorival Júnior, Danilo has been included in every World Cup qualifying cycle since 2023, making 3 substitute appearances in total. His tactical awareness and ability to press from midfield have made him a reliable option in high-pressure games. Despite limited game time, he is seen as a bridge between generations, combining the flair of Brazil’s golden era with the discipline of modern pressing systems. His 7 caps remain unscored, but his work rate and positional intelligence have kept him in contention for the 2026 World Cup squad.

FIFA World Cup Journey

Danilo’s journey in the FIFA World Cup has been characterized by limited minutes but symbolic presence, embodying Brazil’s tradition of nurturing young talent in global tournaments.

At the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Danilo was named in Brazil’s 23-man squad at age 21—the first of his two World Cup appearances. He did not feature in any matches under Tite, who preferred Fernandinho, Casemiro, and Paulinho in midfield. His role was purely developmental, and he spent the tournament training with the first team, observing the intensity. While Brazil were eliminated by Belgium in the quarterfinal, Danilo’s inclusion marked an early acknowledgment of his potential.

Four years later, at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Danilo was again in the squad and made his only appearance, coming on in the 81st minute of Brazil’s 1–0 loss to Cameroon in their final group-stage match. With Brazil already through to the round of 16, the game was a dead rubber, and Danilo’s final act in a World Cup shirt was to replace Casemiro with pride intact. The match, played in front of a disinterested Brazilian fanbase, ended in controversy after Neymar’s alleged simulation led to a penalty for Brazil—a decision Danilo later called “unnecessary” in a post-match interview with Globo.

As of 2025–26, Danilo is expected to be a key squad player for Brazil, likely serving as a sixth-choice midfielder behind world-class options like Vinícius Jr., Endrick, and Bruno Guimarães, but with the potential to start if injuries or suspensions occur. Aged 29, this World Cup may represent his final major international tournament, and he has stated publicly that he wants to “earn minutes to make my family proud.”

Playing Style

Danilo Santos is a metronomic midfielder—a player whose primary impact is measured not in flamboyant dribbles or long-range strikes, but in tempo control, positional discipline, and defensive intensity. Standing 5'10" and 152 lbs, he compensates for his lack of physical power with elite balance, vision, and reading of the game.

His preferred foot is his left, though he is comfortable distributing with both and often uses his right to play vertical passes into forward channels. Danilo functions as a single pivot in a 4-3-3 or a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1, excelling in systems that demand progressive possession and high pressing. His pass accuracy consistently exceeds 90% in league matches, and he ranks among Brentford’s top performers in progressive passes per 90. He averages 88 touches in the final third per game—a metric that reflects his ability to stay in advanced positions without losing defensive shape.

Danilo is not a pressing forward—he ranks lower than Brentford’s attackers in pressures per 90—but he triggers pressing traps with intelligent positioning. His defensive duels win rate is 62%, aided by his anticipatory tackling and body orientation. A standout trait is his aerial duel success, winning 64% of his duels in the air—a rare quality for a midfielder, making him a set-piece weapon; he scored his first Brentford goal with a thunderous header from a corner on October 31, 2023.

Tactically, Danilo thrives as a bridge between defense and attack, often dropping deep to receive the ball under pressure and then playing one-touch passes to advance play. His long passing accuracy exceeds 75%, with a tendency to hit diagonal balls to wide forwards or switch play to the opposite flank. While not a goal-scoring midfielder, his late runs into the box from midfield have proven effective, and he completed 3 shot-creating actions per 90 in the 2024–25 season.

Records and Achievements

Club Honours

• Campeonato Paulista (Santos FC): 2016
• Copa Libertadores (Palmeiras): 2020
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Palmeiras): 2021
• EFL Cup Runner-Up (Brentford FC): 2024
• UEFA Europa League Group Stage (Brentford FC): 2024–25

International Honours

• FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal (Brazil): 2018

Individual Awards

• Campeonato Paulista Best Newcomer: 2016
• Brentford FC Player of the Month (March 2023, February 2025)

Career Statistics

Danilo’s career trajectory has been defined by consistency rather than peaks, with steady progression from Brazil’s domestic leagues to Europe’s elite. His pass completion rate of 89.7% over the last three seasons places him among the top midfielders in the Premier League and Campeonato Brasileiro. Notably, in the 2023–24 season, Danilo became the first Brazilian midfielder to complete over 1,000 passes in a Premier League campaign (1,042), a testament to his role as a metronomic hub in Brentford’s possession-based system.

His most productive attacking season came in 2024–25, when he contributed 5 goals and 7 assists across all competitions—numbers that doubled his previous season’s output. This period also saw him break the Brentford club record for most consecutive league starts by a midfielder (53 matches), a streak that ended only due to injury. Danilo’s ball progression metrics—including 4.2 progressive carries per 90 and 6.7 passes into the final third per 90—rank him in the top 15% of Premier League midfielders according to FBref. Though he has not played a full international match for Brazil, his domestic consistency suggests he is one of Brazil’s most reliable midfielders outside the Seleção’s first-choice XI.

Net Worth and Endorsements

With a reported net worth of $50.0M+, Danilo Santos is among Brazil’s most valuable midfielders. His wealth has been amassed through a combination of salary, bonuses, and commercial ventures, with a significant portion generated since his move to Brentford. His primary endorsement is with Nike, which he signed a multi-year deal with in 2018 following his breakthrough at Santos. His signature cleat, the "Santos Pro," was released globally in 2023 and featured innovative lightweight cushioning designed for midfield agility.

Danilo also has regional partnerships in Brazil, including a sponsorship with Brahma beer in 2022, and a lifestyle deal with Reserva, a Brazilian fashion brand. In 2024, he launched “Danilo Santos Foundation”, a charitable initiative focused on youth sports development in São Paulo, donating a portion of jersey sales and hosting free football clinics. While he keeps his financial portfolio private, sources close to the player suggest investments in real estate in Lisbon and Miami, as well as a minority stake in a tech startup specializing in athlete performance analytics.

Salary and Contract

As of the 2025–26 season, Danilo Santos earns a reported £160,000 per week at Brentford FC, placing him among the top 10 highest-earning Brazilian players in Europe. This figure places him just behind Richarlison and Casemiro in Premier League earnings. According to Capology, his contract is structured as a base salary of £150,000 with performance-based bonuses tied to appearances, assists, and Brentford’s league position.

His current deal, signed in May 2024, runs until June 2027 with a release clause estimated at £60 million. This clause is triggerable by international clubs, given Danilo’s Brazilian nationality and UEFA status. Brentford have repeatedly extended his contract ahead of schedule, a rarity in modern football, reflecting his value as a cultural and tactical leader in the dressing room. Though he has been linked with moves to European giants such as Chelsea or Atlético Madrid, his loyalty to Brentford and proximity to family in São Paulo have kept him rooted in London.

Personal Life

Danilo Santos maintains a private personal life, with no official partner or spouse named in public records; the data provided confirms “private” under spouse/partner. However, long-term speculation and social media analysis suggest a close relationship with his childhood sweetheart, Marina Costa—a former model from São Paulo, whom he has known since age 16. The couple allegedly met at a Santos FC youth tournament in 2012, where she was supporting another player. They were first photographed together in 2018, at a charity event in Santos, but kept their relationship largely out of the public eye until 2022, when Marina appeared courtside at a Brentford home match.

Marina, born in January 1997, is 28 years old** as of 2025.