Brazil have made history at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, finishing on the seventh place, by making the quarter-finals for the first time in 17 apperances on the world stage.

As they gear up for the future and prepare for the 2026 South and Central American Men's Handball Championship, which will take place between 19 and 24 January in Asuncion, Paraguay, the South American powerhouses has been finetuning its roster, with an eye upon the future.

Therefore, it was no surprise that some younger players have been ushered into the team roster by coach Marcus “Tata” Oliveira, with the hottest prospect being the 20-year-old right back Mikael Lopes Candido.

Lopes Candido, a modern right back, with a great mobility and a thunderous shot, appeared brightly on the world stage in 2023, at the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, where he produced some exquisite displays.

“I believe the 2023 Youth World Championship was a turning point in my career, where I changed my mentality and learned lessons to face the next challenges in my life. I was still developing tactically and physically, and I believe I was below my current level, but with a lot of hard work and dedication, I managed to improve those aspects that are so important for the national team,” says Lopes Candido now, before his maiden appearance for the senior national team at an international event.

“What marked me most from that 2023 World Championship was the teamwork, the confidence we had in each other, and that's something we also have a lot of in this senior team - confidence and helping each other in difficult moments. With that, I believe we can go further and further.”

 

Back at that event, the right back helped Brazil to their best finish since 2015 and had 37 goals, being the team’s top scorer. And his potential was immediately scouted by several teams, with Candido, born in Ubatuba, close to Sao Paulo, making the switch to Europe.

He started playing handball when he was 10 years old, in the talent hotbed of Taubaté, and only eight years later he was representing the Brazilian club at the 2022 IHF Men’s Club World Championship, where he scored a goal.

And then, in 2024, he switched to FC Barcelona, playing for the second team of the Spanish powerhouse, following into the footsteps of other Brazilian stars who featured for the most decorated team in history of international handball, most recently the likes of Haniel Langaro and Thiagus Petrus.

“Barcelona's coaches also help us to prepare to represent our national teams and, above all, to handle difficult game moments. Our training sessions always include simulations of high-pressure situations or final minutes, which are crucial for getting us accustomed to those scenarios,” says Lopes Candido.

The experience in Barcelona helped the right back to add new layers to his game and develop even further and become a better version of himself.

“The most important lessons I carry into my career are persistence and always seeking improvement. Persistence on the court during tough game moments, and constantly striving to get better in tactical and physical training,” says Brazil’s new right back.

And the improvements look like they are paying off, as he has been called in the national team for the first time, which, obviously, made Candido Lopes thrilled. He immediately provided some of his qualities in two friendly matches played this January against Sweden, when Brazil conceded two losses, 24:33 and 27:34, against their European counterparts.

 

However, Lopes Candido was brimming at the prospect to feature in the same squad as Haniel Langaro, Bryan Monte da Silva, Thiagus Petrus or Rangel Rosa, some of the biggest household names in Brazilian handball at the moment.

“There are many players on the national team who have been and are my references, and one of the main things is to observe and learn from them. They have many years of experience, and I think there's a lot they can add to my career,” says the right back.

Indeed, the start of the Olympic cycle has been almost perfect for the South American side, which missed the cut at the Olympic Games, failing to qualify for the first time since London 2012 at the Olympics.

And Brazil have only one focus ahead: to become better and better before the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, when Lopes Candido hopes to be representing his national team.

“After the great World Championship we had in 2025, the goal is to keep growing, increasingly uniting the group, and working to secure an Olympic spot, which is so dreamed of by many. The objective is always to help however possible and according to the group's needs, while always giving my maximum effort,” adds Lopes Candido.

But with his international career just at the start, what does representing Brazil mean for the young right back?

“I have a lot of gratitude and pride in being able to wear the dreamed-of yellow jersey. I'm happy that my daily work has been recognised, and it's always a great pleasure to represent the national team – but this wouldn't be possible without the help of God, the coaches, and my family,” concludes Lopes Candido.