Brazilian defensive midfielder Casemiro has scored more Premier League goals this season than Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Jérémy Doku, Rayan Cherki, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Cody Gakpo.
The 34-year-old who was once told to leave football, is now defying logic.
The Manchester United player has nine league goals from his holding midfield position in the current campaign. That tally places him above some of the most celebrated attackers in English football. Salah has six. Isak has six. Palmer has five. Saka has four, and the list goes on.
For a player who turned 34 in February and has never been known for scoring, the numbers are staggering. Casemiro’s previous highest Premier League tally was four in his debut season at Old Trafford. He has smashed that with few games of the season remaining.
The redemption arc is complete. Eighteen months ago, the Brazilian was surplus to requirements and critics said the game had passed him by. Fans questioned his mobility. The club entertained offers, but he stayed and fought.
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Casemiro has now scored 80 career goals across 730 professional matches. His trophy cabinet includes five Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles, one Copa America, and a collection of domestic cups from Spain and England. He is one of the great defensive midfielders of his generation.
Casemiro belongs in the conversation about the Premier League’s most valuable midfielders. At 34, after being told he was finished, that is the definition of legendary.
