#1 Loyalty and commitment to the cause

It’s been a whirlwind few seasons for the 24-year-old. Joining Wolves during the January of 2023 from Brazilian Serie A side Flamengo, Gomes arrived at Molineux as an upcoming star in his homeland, and with league titles and a Copa Libertadores medal to his name, but he had to settle for a supporting role in his first six months at the club.

However, the midfielder has blossomed during his time in gold and black, going on to become one of the most productive players in his position in the Premier League.

Despite the club’s struggles on the pitch in recent times, his commitment to the cause has never been questioned, with that loyalty to the Old Gold being in place even before he had set foot in the country. With the chance to also join Ligue 1 club Lyon coming at the same time as his opportunity to make the Premier League his home, Gomes stood firm on his agreement to sign for Wolves despite the external pressures he was put under, ensuring he would go on to be the fans’ favourite that he is today.

His adaptation might have been difficult at first, but he believes he was always destined to play in the Premier League. His all-action displays on the pitch, together with his ultra professional and personal manner off it, means this new extended deal at Molineux has been just rewards for Gomes.

#2 Adding goals to his game

It took just 17 minutes for Gomes to make his mark for the Old Gold. With Wolves finding themselves one goal – and one man – down to Southampton at St Mary’s back in February 2023, the Brazilian was brought onto the pitch in place of Matheus Nunes to make his debut. Two minutes later, the visitors were back level, and then a quarter of an hour after that, the new signing stepped forward.

The midfielder was found in space just outside the Saints penalty area and after his initial shot was blocked, he was first to the rebound and lashed an effort into the top corner of the net. Racing away to celebrate in the corner, Gomes could not have wished for a better start to his gold and black career.

What dreams are made of! 🫶

A debut goal for @GomesOficial08 to steal a late victory at Southampton. pic.twitter.com/QX0d8r3hd7

— Wolves (@Wolves) February 11, 2023

That was the first of seven goals the midfielder has scored during his time at Wolves to date – with four of those coming this season, in the FA Cup win over Blackburn Rovers and the Premier League games against Crystal Palace as well as home and away against Fulham.

But his most memorable of Gomes’ goals happened to come last term. Having not found the net since that debut day on the south coast, the Brazilian took centre stage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The first before half time saw Gomes meet a Pablo Sarabia corner after being left free inside the box, before he added a second after the break. A constant threat on the break, Wolves made Spurs pay with a quick counter-attack which ended up with the Brazilian firing home from Pedro Neto’s cross – and a day to remember for Gomes, who used his celebration to announce he and his partner were expecting their first son, Pedro.

#3 Taking on the number eight shirt

During the first few months of his gold and black career, Gomes was playing back-up to club captain Ruben Neves. But being able to learn from one of the most iconic players of modern Wolves history has seen him in good stead for what the future was going to hold. After enjoying spells off the bench late on in games, Gomes was given his chance to start.

Neves picked up his 10^th yellow card of the Premier League season in a 1-1 draw away at Nottingham Forest at the start of April 2023, which meant the skipper was handed a two-game suspension.

So in came Gomes for successive home matches, as Chelsea and Brentford paid a visit to Molineux, and the Brazilian looked right at home in the centre of the park, producing a pair of displays which have become typical of the midfielder in an Old Gold shirt – full of guts and determination.

Gomes proved he was going to be the man to take over the central midfield mantle when his Portuguese colleague departed that following summer and has since gone on to start almost 50 game during the course of the last two seasons, cementing his place as one of the most important members of the gold and black line-up.

#4 Making Wolves history with Brazil

Not only have Wolves benefited from Gomes’ talents during the last two years – but so have his national team. Having missed out on representing his country at junior level, the Brazilian’s showings in gold and black earned him a first senior international call-up just two months after his move to the Black Country. Aged 22 at the time, Gomes missed out on an outing in a friendly against Morocco and had to wait another 12 months before he could pull on the famous yellow shirt for the first time.

A debut for the Selecao finally arrived last March, with his first cap coincidentally coming against the country he currently plies his trade.

💛 pic.twitter.com/j1zjWOI4V6

— Wolves (@Wolves) March 23, 2024

Not only was he just in the Brazil squad, but Gomes was in from the start versus England under the Wembley Stadium arch, playing the entire 90 minutes as his country fell to a 1-0 friendly victory against the Three Lions. The cap earned Gomes a piece of Old Gold history, as he became the first player to earn a Brazil international cap while playing for Wolves at club level.

He has since added another nine appearances for his country to his tally, and just last week, Gomes was part of another Wolves international landmark, as together with his club teammates Matheus Cunha and Andre, the trio were all on the pitch at the same time during Brazil’s World Cup qualification clash in Argentina.

#5 A fierce competitor

His battling performances on the hallowed Molineux turf have led to Gomes becoming one of the most popular names on Vitor Pereira’s teamsheet, with his number eight shirt flying off the Molineux Megastore shelves. A player who never stops running, never stops pressing, and never gives up. But underneath his physicality, there’s something more – an inner fight that has been honed through years of discipline, loss, and learning.

The 24-year-old – who has also lived with a stammer his whole life – exudes a quiet strength and fire that has been stoked not just by football, but by a practice that few would expect: Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

The martial art has become a mental and physical escape for Gomes, a way to channel the discipline and perseverance that now define him both on and off the football pitch. During his time at Wolves, Gomes has continued his enthusiasm for the sport and also got the chance to take part in a training class with Wolves supporter and UFC star Jai ‘The Black Country Banger’ Herbert.

Success on the jiu-jitsu mat is not determined by individual prowess, but by an understanding of strategy, timing, and trust in your training partners – all attributes which Gomes portrays on the football pitch. Gomes has shown he can be a relentless presence in midfield, constantly tracking back to defend, pressing opponents, and breaking up play. By combining his two loves, and with his new contract in tow, Gomes is set to be one of the Premier League’s fierce competitors for many years to come.