From trial to acquittal: what 2025 was like for Lucas Paquetá of West Ham.

Brazilian lived through a turbulent period amid suspicions related to sports betting.

Lucas Paquetá experienced one of the most delicate and defining years of his career in 2025. The Brazilian midfielder had to deal with a lengthy off-field investigation while simultaneously continuing to perform at a high level for West Ham and remaining on the radar of the Brazilian national team with the goal of being included in the 2026 World Cup squad.

100percentsurewins ! has prepared a retrospective of Lucas Paquetá ‘s year , which was one of the most challenging periods of his career on the field.

The year began under intense tension after he was indicted in May 2024 on suspicion of involvement in sports betting. The trial began in March and only concluded in June, generating commotion in the international press, which was awaiting the outcome of the hearing.

From the beginning, Paquetá declared himself innocent and maintained a reserved stance, avoiding public statements while awaiting the conclusion of the case. The trial period had a direct impact on his routine, with external pressure, constant questioning, and uncertainty about the next steps in his career.

His continued stay in England was also discussed. Many, even without a verdict, were against the player continuing to play in the Premier League. Others wanted the process to end and believed in the Brazilian’s innocence. Paquetá’s name was linked to other clubs, one of them being Flamengo, where he began his football career.

Even in this turbulent scenario, Paquetá remained an important player for West Ham. On the field, he showed consistency, physical commitment, and technical leadership during a period of rebuilding for the club. Playing in midfield, he was responsible for organizing the game, participating in the main offensive plays, and providing ba100percentsurewins to the team, being a constant presence among the starters throughout the season.

July 31, 2025, was the decisive moment of the year for Paquetá: the conclusion of the trial, the month after the hearing ended. After months of investigation, the Brazilian was found innocent, officially ending the process.

He was  cleared  of allegations of manipulation of misconduct charges brought against him by the Football Association (FA) for alleged violations of FA rule E5. The Regulatory Commission found that there was no evidence to support the allegations.

The decision represented a significant relief for the player, who was cleared to return to normal activities with West Ham. However, Paquetá’s desire is to leave the club in the winter transfer window, which opens in January, as some news outlets have reported.

With the situation resolved, Paquetá returned to the Brazilian National Team’s call-ups . In August, he was called up by Carlo Ancelotti to represent Brazil in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. At the Maracanã, under the watchful eyes of his family and many fans, the former Flamengo player scored his goal. Redemption came on September 4th. At home.

“It’s a unique feeling that I was able to experience today. I think it was meant to be, man. To come back here to the Maracanã, which is my home, to be able to score, to be able to help the national team. I’m very happy after everything I’ve been through, everything I’ve endured in these last two years. Now, finally, I can play my football lightly,” said Paquetá, emotionally.

From ordeal to apotheosis, Paquetá and Luiz Henrique shine at the Maracanã.

With his off-field issues now resolved, Lucas Paquetá enters 2026 with a clearer and more objective outlook. The expectation is that the player will be more focused exclusively on his sporting performance, with room to resume goals interrupted by the instability of the past year.

At West Ham, the midfielder continues this season as a consolidated part of the squad, with technical responsibility and a defined role within the club’s project. In the last game of the year, Paquetá provided an assist and also scored a goal in the 2-2 draw with Brighton in the Premier League.

In this World Cup year, Paquetá will face some challenges to secure a place among Ancelotti’s selected players: he faces competition in the Brazilian national team’s midfield. However, his goal is to maintain a high level of performance to regain his leading role and help Brazil win their sixth World Cup title, which will be played between June and July in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

An island in Guanabara Bay, with around four thousand permanent residents, has become one of the most well-known places because of football. Paquetá, the place where the star player was raised, has become the center of attention amidst a process that could remove the player from his activities due to involvement in sports betting manipulation.