Who is Danilo Santos?
Danilo Santos, whose full name is Danilo dos Santos de Oliveira, is a Brazilian central midfielder currently playing for Brazilian Série A club Botafogo. Born in Salvador, Bahia, on April 29, 2001, the midfielder has steadily worked his way through Brazilian football to become one of the country's most promising midfield talents.
Although known simply as “Danilo” throughout most of his career, he has increasingly been referred to as Danilo Santos in Brazil to distinguish him from other footballers who share the same name. His combination of technical quality, defensive work rate, and ability to contribute in attack has made him a valuable asset in midfield.
From Palmeiras Wonderkid to European Football
Danilo's rise began in the youth systems of Bahia, Jacuipense, and PFC Cajazeiras before he was spotted by Palmeiras. After progressing through Palmeiras' academy, he made his senior debut in 2020 and quickly established himself as one of the club's brightest young stars.
His breakthrough years coincided with one of the most successful periods in Palmeiras' recent history. Danilo played a key role as the club won back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles in 2020 and 2021, earning huge praise for his maturity and composure despite his young age.
Those performances eventually earned him a move to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest in 2023. Despite the huge expectations, his time in England was a disappointing one where he couldn't get many opportunities, but it can also be argued that the move was an important learning curve as well for the player. He eventually returns to Brazil with Botafogo in 2025.
A Midfielder with Goal-Scoring Ability
Although primarily a central or defensive midfielder, Danilo possesses an underrated attacking side to his game. He is comfortable carrying the ball forward, arriving late into the penalty area, and contributing crucial goals when needed.
Since joining Botafogo, he has enjoyed impressive form, becoming an influential figure in midfield and attracting attention from both supporters and national team selectors. His performances have even generated transfer interest from major clubs in Brazil and abroad.
Brazil's Career Taking Off
Danilo had previously been involved with the Brazilian national team setup, but 2026 has been a breakthrough year for him at the senior international level. The midfielder earned a place in Carlo Ancelotti's plans and marked the occasion by scoring in the emphatic victory over Panama. The goal was also one of his first major contributions for the senior national team.
At 25 years old, Danilo Santos is entering the prime years of his career. With experience in Brazil, Europe, and now the national team environment, he became an important squad player for the Seleção during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He made appearances in 4 matches for Brazil in 2026 FIFA World Cup.
