In the squad against Gladbach
©IMAGO
On Wednesday, Maycon Cardozo (17) signed a new contract with FC Bayern, and two days later, according to media reports, he will be in the Bundesliga squad for the first time against Borussia Mönchengladbach (8:30 p.m.). What’s special: The Brazilian is the first talent from the World Squad to make it to the professionals – in just two years. A football fairytale that began 8,800 kilometers away.
Born in São Paulo as the son of ex-striker Douglas Cardozo, Maycon grew up in Thailand, where his father was active from 2010. He first attracted attention in several youth teams at the Sports Thai Bavaria Academy, which works closely with FC Bayern. In April 2024, he made the jump from Bangkok Christian College to the international U18 team at Munich’s Global Academy, where he was recommended for a place in the World Squad.
The project, launched by Bayern in 2021, selects U19 players from all over the world and supports them in realizing their dream of professional football. But the big success story has so far failed to materialize. Among those who made it into first division football were José Mulato (23, HSK Posusje), Manuel Aguilar (23) and Isaias Galván (20, both Tigres UANL), Viktor Baier (21, Viktoria Pilsen), Tarik Scott (20, Lexington SC), Victor Orakpo (20, AS Nancy-Lorraine), Felix Amofa (18, Accra Lions) and Giovanni De Abreu (18, Perth Glory).
Cardozo as a pioneer of the FC Bayern World Squad
The Nigerian talent Daniel Francis (22) was the first player to be recommended for a contract with FC Bayern. After his signing in the summer of 2022, he was loaned out directly to Austria Klagenfurt, after which he moved to FC Wacker Innsbruck, where he now plays in the third-tier regional league. His successor, David Emmanuel (19), also received a contract in Munich in January 2025, first went to Hessen Kassel and now plays in the Czech Republic’s 3rd league for SK Kladen. With Cardozo, who was also able to sign for FC Bayern a year ago as a 16-year-old thanks to a Portuguese passport, the work is finally bearing fruit for the Munich team.
“He only came to us in the last four weeks of the 2024 World Squad on the recommendation of the Global Academy because another player was seriously injured,” recalled his then coach Roy Makaay in a post for the club website. At 15, Cardozo was significantly younger than many others, but his talent was already unmistakable back then. “Maycon played three games in the USA and two in Germany as part of the World Squad. That was enough for us to recommend him to those responsible on campus,” enthused the ex-Bayern striker. A trial training session with the U17s dispelled any remaining doubts.
There, Cardozo suffered a setback shortly after signing. He missed most of the second half of the season due to a shoulder injury. But the Brazilian came back even more impressive. Last summer he moved up to the U19s, for whom he contributed five goals and assists in 17 games. Cardozo was the first talent from the World Squad to make it into professional training in October, where he was allowed to take part regularly from then on. After a test match against Salzburg (6-0), he moved on to the amateurs in the winter, where he was in the starting line-up in the first two regional league games of the year. Now comes the next reward with the nomination by Vincent Kompany.
Cardozo impresses FC Bayern with his wit and assertiveness
“He is technically very well trained, has a strong dribbling ability, is nimble and quick, and is dangerous when finishing with both feet,” said Makaay, summarizing Cardozo’s strengths. Despite being only 1.65 meters tall – no Bundesliga professional is smaller – the Brazilian impressed on the left or right wing with his wit and assertiveness. “You can clearly see how he has developed in a year at Bayern – especially physically. The training is extremely demanding and is paying off. He has to assert himself against adult players in this league, that will take him further.”
After signing a new long-term development contract, Cardozo, who is working intensively on his German skills, will continue his steep development little by little and crown his football fairytale with his professional debut. His father celebrated his greatest success in 2002 with the championship title in his home country of Brazil at FC Santos. In Europe he was only granted four first division appearances in Poland with Widzew Lodz. His son has the potential to overshadow him. “Maycon has the will and talent to establish himself in the professional field. Where exactly his path will take him remains to be seen,” said Makaay.
