Brazil breeze past India 4-0 in historic Kolkata friendly

Five-time world champions Brazil marked their first meeting with India with a comfortable 4-0 victory in an international friendly at Kolkata’s Yuva Bharati Stadium on Saturday.

India impressed during the opening 27 minutes, but Brazil gradually took control and scored twice before half-time before adding two more goals after the break.

 

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Photo: Reuters

Estevao broke the deadlock in the 28th minute with a superb strike. The Brazilian winger jinked past Ashique Kuruniyan on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful drive towards the near post. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu got a hand to the effort, but could only help it squeeze underneath him and into the net.

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Photo: AFP

Brazil doubled their advantage in the 42nd minute through Pedro. Estevao collected the ball on the right touchline and spotted Pedro making a run behind Anwar Ali. The forward's effort from a narrowing angle appeared to be heading straight at Gurpreet, but the goalkeeper could not hold it and the ball squirmed into the net.

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Brazil's forward Pedro (L) celebrates with teammate Brazil's forward Estevao Willian (R) after scoring a goal during the international friendly football match between India and Brazil at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on October 3, 2026. Photo: AFP

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti made five changes at half-time, bringing on Bruno Guimaraes, Gabriel Magalhaes, Vanderson, Samuel Lino and Douglas Luiz.

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Brazil make seven changes for historic India friendly

The changes did little to alter the pattern of the match, however, as Brazil added a third in the 58th minute.

India gifted possession away in a dangerous area when Bijoy Varghese was dispossessed, allowing Brazil to quickly release Lino down the left side of the box. The forward curled a fine effort beyond a diving Gurpreet and into the bottom corner.

Lino completed the scoring in the fourth minute of stoppage time with another fine finish. Cutting inside from the edge of the box, he rifled a low drive towards the near post that flew through goalkeeper's palm and into the net.