West Ham star Lucas Paqueta provides assist on international duty but he’s a symbol of Brazil’s sad demise

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Lucas Paqueta put in a performance for Brazil last night very much like the ones he’s served up for West Ham so far this season.

West Ham signed Lucas Paqueta from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon in the summer of 2022 for a club record £51 million fee.

It emerged last summer that West Ham ace Lucas Paqueta was being investigated for his role in potential betting breaches.

Since then, things have gotten even worse for him, after he was charged for his alleged role in the betting scam.

Should Paqueta get found guilty of the charges being levelled against him, he reportedly could receive a lifetime ban.

The problems the 27-year-old has behind the scenes are clearly affecting him on the pitch – certainly as far as his concentration levels go.

Paqueta does some brilliant things but then makes some real schoolboy errors. It has been a consistent pattern for him during his time at the London Stadium.

He put in a performance for Brazil last night that was eerily similar to his displays for West Ham this season.

Mixed bag for Lucas Paqueta in Brazil win

Paqueta provided an assist for Rodrygo to open the scoring for Brazil against Ecuador last night.

However, it was hardly a defence-splitting pass laid on by the Hammers midfielder. He simply laid it off to the Real Madrid star who fired in from outside the box, via a deflection.

The Hammers midfielder wasted possession far too cheaply on many occasions, and he was dispossessed by the opposition numerous times after dawdling on the ball for too long.

Brazil fans swarmed social media highlighting how Paqueta is a symbol of the Brazil national team’s regression in general.

I’ve seen this film before, and I know how it plays out.

The former Lyon man does do fantastic things for the Hammers, but he makes a lot of bad mistakes as well.

The frustrating thing about the 27-year-old is that he can do things that others can’t. So having him in the team is crucial.

But then you have to accept his shortcomings as well.

Paqueta a symbol of Brazil’s demise

Whilst the midfield player-maker has been sensational at times for West Ham, and indeed Brazil over the past couple of years, he’s in no way world-class.

That phrase gets thrown about far too cheaply these days.

However, the fact that Paqueta is a regular in the Brazil starting XI, and is viewed as a key player for them, highlights just how far the Samba Boys have fallen.

Gone are the days of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo or Pele, Jairzinho and Rivellino before them.

This Brazil side is a very bland, albeit functional outfit, encapsulated by the fact that West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta is such a vital member of the team.

As harsh as this may sound, he wouldn’t have been anywhere near that side even 10 years ago, let alone 20, 30, 40 and more.

He’s been brilliant for the Hammers at times, but I’m not ashamed to admit, I won’t lose any sleep if we sell him for big money.