Longtime friends and former Vasco da Gama teammates Andrey Santos and Marlon Gomes have reunited while serving on the Brazilian senior national team in Singapore.
The duo, who first met as teenagers, have shared a professional journey that spans youth levels and club football, according to Yahoo Sports.
Andrey joined the youth ranks at São Januário in 2011, while Marlon arrived in 2018.
Their careers became increasingly intertwined as they progressed through Brazil’s youth national teams, winning the South American Under-20 Championship in 2023.
The pair also secured promotion to Brazil’s top flight with Vasco in 2022, a season during which they both played pivotal roles for the club.
Their paths diverged in 2023 when Andrey signed with Chelsea, and Marlon later joined Shakhtar Donetsk in 2024.
Despite these changes, their bond remains strong as they now represent their country at the senior level.
During a press conference held last Thursday, Andrey reflected on their shared history by stating, “It’s very easy to talk about Marlon.”
He further noted, “We grew up together, studied together, lived together, shared accommodation at Vasco, and shared the pitch too.”
Marlon, who earned his first senior call-up and debuted against Japan, expressed similar sentiments regarding their friendship.
He described his teammate as a “brother for life that football gave me.”
The two midfielders previously predicted this moment during their time at Vasco, specifically following a 3-1 victory over Tombense in 2022.
Andrey had publicly declared at the time, “God willing, we’ll be in the senior national team soon.”
Now, that aspiration has become a reality for both players as they continue their development on the international stage.
The reunion in Singapore highlights the deep connections formed within the Vasco academy system.