Luca Navarrete has scored 27 goals in 27 matches this season for São Paulo FC’s youth teams, a one-goal-per-game rate that has made the 14-year-old striker one of the most closely followed young players in Brazilian grassroots football, AS reported. Of those 27 goals, 22 have come in the Campeonato Paulista Sub-14, where he leads the tournament’s scoring chart.
Navarrete, born in 2012 in Goiânia, joined São Paulo in 2023 after standing out at a tournament in his hometown, according to AS. He moved quickly through the club’s ranks, was the top scorer at the 2024 Leme Cup, and scored the winning goal in the Paulista Cup final against city rival Corinthians.
Spain’s RFEF Has Monitored Navarrete All Season
What sets this story apart from ordinary youth-prospect coverage is Navarrete’s eligibility. He holds a European passport through his parents, giving him Spanish nationality alongside his Brazilian one, and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has tracked his development throughout the current campaign, AS reported. SPORT added that the federation’s interest is aimed at the Spain under-15 side of 2027 — though both outlets stress it is far too early for any call-up to the current U-15 squad, the reigning world champions at the recent tournament in Azerbaijan.
🔴 Noticia SPORT 👀 España pone sus ojos en Navarrete, el '9' que despunta en Brasil 💎 El delantero de 14 años de la cantera del São Paulo FC está en el radar de la RFEF de cara a la sub-15 de 2027 ✍️ @SergiCastillo_ https://t.co/dVlZ9IkJG0
The dual eligibility means Navarrete could one day choose between Spain’s La Roja and Brazil’s Canarinha, SPORT noted. No decision has been made, and the player remains focused on his development in São Paulo’s academy.
Brazil’s CBF Wants to Lock Him Down
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is moving to protect its own talent. AS reported that the CBF wants to secure Navarrete contractually in the coming months. He has already signed his first formation contract with São Paulo — the step before a professional deal, which under the rules he can only sign from age 16.
🇪🇸 ESPANHA MONITORA PROMESSA DA BASE DO SÃO PAULO O atacante Luca Navarrete, de 14 anos, está no radar da Real Federação Espanhola de Futebol (RFEF), que acompanha sua evolução de olho na Seleção Sub-15 em 2027 Nascido em Goiânia, o camisa 9 soma 27 gols em 27 partidas nesta… pic.twitter.com/NPPx2IqHDX
His representatives, Max Silva and Giuliano Bertolucci, are accompanying his progress closely, alongside his family, according to both AS and SPORT.
57 Goals in Two Seasons at São Paulo
The numbers behind the attention are concrete: 27 goals in 27 matches this season, plus 30 goals in the previous campaign, for 57 goals across two seasons in São Paulo’s academy, AS and SPORT both reported. SPORT described his strengths as his ability to find the back of the net, his presence in the penalty area and his finishing.
His performances have also drawn scouts from major European clubs, who are tracking young Brazilian talent, AS reported. A move to Europe is currently ruled out, AS noted — but a debut for Spain is not.
What Readers Still Want to Know About Navarrete
Can Navarrete actually play for Spain? Yes, in principle. He holds Spanish nationality through his parents, and the RFEF is monitoring him with the 2027 U-15 generation in mind, SPORT reported. Nothing is decided, and he remains a São Paulo player.
When can he sign a professional contract? At 16. He has signed only a formation contract so far, AS reported, and Brazilian rules prevent a professional deal before that age.
Which clubs are watching him? AS reported that scouts from major European clubs are following him, without naming specific teams.
The next checkpoint is the CBF’s expected move to secure his future in the coming months — and whether the RFEF’s monitoring turns into formal contact before then.
