Evertton Gustavo Fernandes Araújo, born on February 28, 2003, in Volta Redonda, in the interior of Rio de Janeiro, is one of the names that has drawn the most attention in recent Brazilian football. At just 22 years old, the midfielder already carries on his shoulders a story of overcoming, grit, and talent that has made him an important piece in Flamengo’s squad. His trajectory, marked by comings and goings between smaller clubs and the big leap to a giant like the Rubro-Negro, inspires young athletes who dream of making a living from the sport they love. In this article, we dive into Evertton’s life and career, highlighting his early steps, achievements, and the most recent chapters of his journey, including the hot events of November 2025.
Childhood and Beginnings in Football
Origins in Volta Redonda
Volta Redonda, an industrial city known for steel and grassroots football, was Evertton’s birthplace. The son of a humble family in the Santa Cruz neighborhood—not the famous one in Rio’s West Zone, but a poorer cousin in the Fluminense interior—he grew up playing ball on dirt streets. From a young age, football was more than a pastime; it was an escape from daily challenges. Evertton recalls that, at 10 years old, he was already organizing pickup games with friends, using an old ball and makeshift cleats. His parents, dedicated workers, always encouraged their son’s dream, even without the means for expensive academies.
At 15, in 2018, Evertton took his first formal step in the sport. He joined the youth ranks of Volta Redonda Futebol Clube, the local team that represents the city’s pride. There, under experienced coaches, the boy began to shape his playing style: combative, intelligent in marking, and with vision for distributing passes. “I saw football as a chance to change my family’s life,” Evertton recalled in a recent interview on Flamengo’s YouTube channel in February 2025. His early training sessions were intense, with morning runs and tactical drills that tested his physical endurance—something he quickly mastered at 173 cm tall, with his right foot as his main weapon.
Early Challenges and Talent Discovery
Not everything was easy in the initial years. Evertton faced minor injuries and the pressure of balancing studies and football. In Volta Redonda, he split his time between the pitch and odd jobs to help at home. A little-known curiosity is that, before fully dedicating himself to the sport, the young man worked as a barber in the neighborhood. He charged between R$10 and R$15 per haircut, using manual skills that would later translate into precision in tackles. “Cutting hair taught me patience and focus, things I use on the field today,” he joked in a chat with reporters in June 2024, after a memorable game.
These formative years were crucial for developing his mindset. Evertton wasn’t the fastest or tallest in the group, but he compensated with game reading and total commitment. In 2019, at 16, he caught the eye of bigger scouts, opening doors to new opportunities.
Youth Academy Formation
Stints at Cruzeiro and Botafogo
Evertton’s talent soon echoed beyond Volta Redonda. In 2019, he was invited for a trial period at Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte. The Fox, then one of Minas Gerais’ football giants, saw in the boy a potential box-to-box midfielder, capable of marking and advancing. It was months of adapting to a more intense pace, with daily training at the Mineirão and contact with players he admired on TV. “There, I learned the importance of tactical discipline,” Evertton said. However, the stint was short; contractual differences sent him back to Rio.
Soon after, a chance came at Botafogo, another Carioca club with a tradition of developing combative midfielders. In General Severiano, Evertton trained alongside names already emerging in the first team, like Matheus Fernandes. He participated in under-17 tournaments, where he stood out in games against rivals like Flamengo and Fluminense. His aggressive but clean marking and ability to steal balls in midfield made him a key piece in youth championship finals. “Botafogo gave me confidence to dream big,” he reflects.
Return to Volta Redonda and Consolidation
Back at Volta Redonda at the end of 2019, Evertton established himself as a leader in the under-20 team. Between 2020 and 2021, even with the pandemic interrupting competitions, he racked up minutes in friendlies and state leagues. His professional debut came in 2021, in a Série C Brasileirão match, where he played 45 minutes without scoring but earned high marks for defensive coverage. At 18, he was already seen as a local gem, ready for the next leap.
Arrival at Flamengo
Loan and First Steps at the Rubro-Negro
Evertton’s destiny changed in 2022, when Flamengo signed him on loan from Volta Redonda. The Gávea club, always scouting youth talents, saw in him an ideal substitute for midfielders like Thiago Maia when needed. The contract included a purchase option, extended until December 2023. Evertton arrived at Ninho do Urubu bearing the weight of wearing Brazil’s heaviest shirt, but without flinching.
His professional debut for Mengão was on January 13, 2023, in the Campeonato Carioca, in a 1-0 victory over Audax-RJ. Coming on in the second half, he helped secure the result with precise tackles. “It was a dream come true. I felt the Maracanã pulse,” he described years later. In the following months, he alternated between the under-20s and the first team, gaining experience in Copinha and Carioca games.
Permanent Signing and Squad Integration
In December 2023, Flamengo exercised the purchase option, sealing Evertton’s stay until the end of 2026. The news came amid a midfield overhaul at the Rubro-Negro, with veteran departures and arrivals like De La Cruz. Evertton, then 20, signed with a modest initial salary but performance bonuses. His integration was gradual: training alongside idols like Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique motivated him to evolve.
In the 2024 Carioca, he played three matches, showing improvement in ball distribution. His Libertadores debut came in April 2024, against Millonarios in Bogotá, in a 1-1 draw. Despite the altitude, Evertton played the full 90 minutes, with 85% pass accuracy and two tackles.
Career Highlights
Debut and First Goals
Consolidation came in 2024, a season of ups and downs for Flamengo. Evertton played 27 games, with 15 wins, eight draws, and four losses. His shining moment was in June against Athletico-PR in Curitiba. Coming on in the second half, he scored the equalizer in stoppage time, securing a precious point in the title fight. “That goal was for my family, for Volta Redonda,” he emotionally said leaving the field.
In total, in 2024, he scored two goals in the first team—the other in a friendly. His defensive stats impress: an average of 2.5 tackles per game and a 78% duel win rate. In March 2024, Flamengo rejected a bid from América-MG, signaling confidence in the youngster’s potential.
2024 Season: Overcoming and Memorable Moments
The year 2024 was one of learning. Evertton dealt with a knee muscle injury in May, sidelining him for three weeks. Upon returning, he showed resilience, becoming a starter in Libertadores group stage games. His partnership with Allan and Pulgar in midfield was praised by Tite, the coach at the time. “Evertton has the grit of Flamengo’s youth,” the coach said after a Brasileirão win.
Off the field, he got involved in social actions in Volta Redonda, visiting schools and donating equipment to children’s football projects. His humility, inherited from his barber days, makes him beloved by the Rubro-Negro Nation.
2025 Updates: Recent Challenges and Achievements
Renewal and European Interest
Entering 2025 at 22, Evertton renewed his contract with Flamengo until December 2028, in December 2024. The extension came after a performance clause was triggered by his strong numbers. In the year, he played 19 matches, scoring one goal in the Brasileirão—a long-range shot against Vasco in May.
In July 2025, rumors stirred the market: clubs from Germany, like Borussia Dortmund, and Spain, including Sevilla, showed interest. Flamengo, however, held onto the player, seeing him as a future asset. “I’m happy here, but I dream of Europe one day,” Evertton commented in an Instagram live.
Under Filipe Luís, the new coach in 2025, he established himself as a rotation option. In October, after a win over Botafogo, he praised partner Jorginho: “He knows the field’s shortcuts like no one. Our duo is flying.” In August, a viral YouTube video showed his “comeback” after an irregular phase, with extra training sessions earning fan praise.
Recent Brasileirão Controversy
The last hours of November 2025 brought a controversial chapter. On the 1st, in Flamengo’s 3-0 victory over Sport at the Maracanã, Evertton came on at the 31-minute mark of the second half, replacing Saúl Ñíguez. With the game under control—goals from Bruno Henrique (two) and a free-kick masterpiece from Arrascaeta—he received a yellow card and, at 39 minutes, was sent off after VAR review for a challenge on Gustavo Gómez, Palmeiras’ defender? No, wait: the incident was against a Sport player, but the comparison came quickly.
The play, described as a tackle attempt that touched the ball but hit the opponent’s leg, sparked outrage. Fans and the club compared it to an identical challenge by Palmeiras’ Gustavo Gómez against Cruzeiro in the previous round, which went unpunished. Director José Boto quipped: “Too bad the rules in Rio are different.” Bruno Henrique, the goal scorer, defended his teammate: “Evertton is a warrior; that was unfair. He just wanted to steal the ball.”
The red card makes him a certain absence against São Paulo on Wednesday (5th), in the 32nd round of the Brasileirão. Commentators like PC de Oliveira and Carlos Eugênio Simon debated the refereeing criteria, highlighting inconsistencies. On X (formerly Twitter), posts like @SportsCenterBR’s went viral with the incident video, garnering over 4,000 views in hours. Evertton, in Instagram stories (@everttonaraujo__), posted a message of faith: “God above all. Let’s move forward.”
Despite the setback, Flamengo sleeps atop the table, and Evertton remains a valuable piece. His 53 professional games up to August total two goals, with projections for more minutes by year’s end.
Playing Style and Characteristics
Evertton is the classic Brazilian defensive midfielder: tireless in marking, with good short passing and vision for launches. His short stature helps in aerial duels, where he surprises with jumping ability. Coaches praise his tactical maturity—he reads the game like a veteran, anticipating opponents’ moves. Weaknesses? Long-range finishing still needs polishing, but his first 2025 goal shows progress.
At Flamengo, he fits into Filipe Luís’ 4-2-3-1 scheme, covering spaces alongside De La Cruz. His pass accuracy rate (82%) and tackles (2.8 per game) place him among the best in the position in the Brasileirão, per Sofascore data.
Personal Life
The Barber Who Became a Player
Off the pitch, Evertton puts family first. He lives in Rio with his girlfriend and a Labrador dog named Thor. He maintains strong ties to Volta Redonda, where he built a multisport court in 2024 with part of his salary. The barber story persists as a lesson: “Cutting hair gave me independence. Today, I use it to inspire kids from the periphery.”
He avoids controversies, focusing on faith and work. In February 2025, an interview at Flamengo’s training center revealed his spiritual side: “Everything I’ve achieved is a blessing from God.” On Instagram, with 150,000 followers, he posts training sessions, family, and motivational messages.
Future and Prospects
With a contract until 2028, Evertton has ahead the final stretch of the 2025 Brasileirão, the Copa do Brasil, and perhaps the 2026 Libertadores. European interest hasn’t died; rumors point to a possible move in 2026, after consolidating at Mengão. Filipe Luís sees him as a future youth captain. At 22, he dreams of the Brazilian under-23 national team for the 2028 Olympics.
Challenges like the recent red card test his resilience, but Evertton responds with training. “Mistakes happen, but the important thing is to get up,” he said after the game.
Conclusion
Evertton Araújo’s story is a hymn to perseverance. From Volta Redonda’s streets to the Maracanã pitch, passing through haircuts and decisive goals, he represents the best of Brazilian football: raw talent mixed with determination. In November 2025, even with the cloud of the red card, his shine continues. The midfielder is not just a player; he is a living example that dreams are built with sweat and faith. May more chapters come in this Rubro-Negro journey.
