- Since making his debut for Peixe in January 2025, Gabriel Bontempo has established himself as a vital part of the Brazilian side.
- Versatile, talented and capable of scoring goals, the Santos midfielder is one of the players Cuca’s team are relying on in their pursuit of La Gran Conquista.
Born in Uberaba and still only 21, he broke into a squad filled with established names and quickly stood out through his quality and a composure beyond his years. His dynamism and ability to operate in different positions across midfield soon made him a key component of the Santos side.
“I am very happy with everything that has happened in my life. Playing professionally for Santos FC has always been a dream,” said the product of the São Paulo club’s youth academy shortly after signing a contract extension in April this season.
Days later, with Santos facing a difficult situation in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana group stage, Bontempo continued to grow in stature and scored two important goals — the equaliser in the 1-1 draw away to San Lorenzo and another in the 3-0 victory over Deportivo Cuenca — to secure qualification for the Round of 16 play-offs.
In his first appearance in the knockout stage, away to Universidad Central de Venezuela, he paved the way with a goal in the Brazilian side’s 4-1 victory. His third strike took him level for the most goals scored by a Santos player in a single edition of the competition, matching Gabriel Barbosa in 2026, Bryan Angulo in 2022, and Elano and Basílio in 2004.
His strong performances attracted interest from Europe during the FIFA World Cup break, with Bontempo reportedly appearing on Bayern Munich’s radar. When the CONMEBOL Sudamericana resumed, the midfielder underlined his excellent form and set the tone for Cuca’s Santos side: he scored, recorded 52 touches, made three recoveries, attempted two shots and won one foul.
Beyond the raw statistics, the Santos midfielder inspires a feeling that few players can generate: the expectation that whenever he gets on the ball, something is about to happen. That quality has helped him earn a place in a side that is direct, aggressive in attack and defensively solid.
The first objective for the Vila Belmiro outfit will be to negotiate the Round of 16 play-offs before facing Ecuador’s Macará. Beyond that lies the ambition of progressing past the quarter-finals, a stage that has so far represented a historic barrier for Santos on two occasions: against Liga de Quito in 2004 and Paraguay’s Libertad in 2021.
