Brazil is preparing for a national team appearance in VALORANT ahead of a 2026 international event, and the early conversation around the roster already points in a familiar direction. Erick “aspas” Santos is one of the first names being discussed, not because of a single statement, but because of where he stands in the region.
The idea of a national roster changes how players are evaluated. It is not about long-term team building or seasonal form alone. It is about who represents a region best in a short, high-pressure format, and that is where Brazil’s depth makes the decision more complex than it first appears.
The introduction of a national-team tournament adds a layer that VALORANT has not fully explored before. Instead of organizations and long-standing rosters, players are grouped by country, often alongside teammates they usually face as opponents.
That changes the structure of competition. Systems built over months are replaced by short preparation windows, and success depends on how quickly players can adapt to new roles and new teammates.
For Riot and tournament organizers, it also creates a different kind of spectacle. National identity brings its own narrative weight, and it offers something the regular VCT circuit does not always provide, even at its biggest events.
Even without focusing on a single quote, aspas is central to the conversation because of his track record. His consistency across multiple seasons and his role as a primary carry player make him one of the safest selections if Brazil is building a roster for immediate impact.
He is also one of the few players in the region whose experience spans different competitive phases of VALORANT. That matters in a national format, where stability and decision-making under pressure can outweigh raw mechanical peaks.
At the same time, Brazil’s strength has never been limited to one player. The region continues to produce talent across multiple teams, which means even obvious picks like aspas exist within a much wider pool of options.
What makes this situation different from a standard roster move is the timeline. National teams are built quickly, often with fixed deadlines that do not allow for extended testing or gradual development.
That compresses the selection process. Players are judged on current form, reputation, and how well they are expected to fit into a system that has not had time to fully form.
It also shifts the pressure onto coaching decisions. Picking the strongest five players on paper does not guarantee a functional team, especially in a format where chemistry has to come together almost immediately.
The conversation around aspas highlights how these decisions are likely to unfold. There are players who feel like clear inclusions, but the success of a national team will depend on how those pieces are combined rather than who makes the list.
That is where the uncertainty sits. Brazil has the talent to compete at any level, but translating that into a cohesive unit in a short timeframe is a different challenge entirely.
